The Dermatologist – Features Regional Atlas on Contact Dermatitis

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“The Dermatologist is a print and digital brand that circulates to more than 14,798 dermatologists, dermatology residents, dermatology nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses, as well as other healthcare professionals. The Dermatologist is collaborating with numerous associations, including the National Psoriasis Foundation, the world’s leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to the 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, to educate dermatologists on the latest research related to psoriasis through The Dermatologist print and digital brand. Others include The National Eczema Association, The National Rosacea Society, and The Skin Cancer Foundation.

The editorial mission of The Dermatologist  focuses on providing practical and clinical insight, industry news and peer perspectives into today’s general dermatology issues. This award-winning publication offers dermatologists reader-friendly, timely and informative articles that highlight clinical advances for treatment of cutaneous pathologies such as skin cancer, acne and psoriasis, as well as information on how to incorporate cosmetic procedures, such as Botox and laser skin resurfacing, into a dermatology practice. Practice management topics, such as managed care, Medicare regulations and marketing techniques that can easily be translated into current practice settings, are also featured.”

Check out the Regional Atlas of Contact Dermatitis!

The Dermatologist (formerly Skin and Aging) has had a column dedicated to allergic contact dermatitis (allergen focus) since January 2005!

Experimental T cell regulation in ACD – novel potential interventions

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Original Article: Balmert SC, Donahue C, Vu JR, Erdos G, Falo LD Jr, Little SR. In vivo induction of regulatory T cells promotes allergen tolerance and suppresses allergic contact dermatitis. J Control Release. 2017 Sep 10; 261:223-233.

Reviewer: Calvin T Sung, BS. MSIII, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

  • Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a T-cell mediated inflammatory skin condition commonly treated with topical corticosteroids through nonspecific immunosuppression.
  • The underlying immune hypersensitivity dysfunction can be addressed through identification and avoidance of the causative agent.
  • Essentially, ACD results from an inbalance between immune suppressing T regulatory cells (Tregs) and the pro-inflammatory cells that are inappropriately responding to specific allergens.
  • Immunologial chemical messengers, aka cytokines, (IL-2 and TGF-b1) and the antibiotic rapamycin can promote the expansion of Tregs to suppress the over active immune function underlying ACD.
  • Microparticle polymers are notable large molecules that can carry and release IL-2, TGF-b1, and rapamycin.
    • Balmert et al demonstarted that a Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticle (PEG-PLGA) had a faster release rate of IL-2, TGF-b1, and rapamycin compared to the original PLGA microparticle formulation previously described by Jhunjhunwala et al.1
    • The cytokine and antibiotic releasing microparticle treatment was formulated as a subcutaneous injection and delivered experimentally to mice two days prior to topical and microneedle delivered allergen exposure (to induce sensitization).
    • Microparticle treatment injections at the ear (where allergens were introduced) revealed the potential for increasing the number of local Tregs to dampen unwanted immune responses upon subsequent allergen exposure.
  • Experiments demonstrated that microparticle treatment injections must be delivered locally near the site of allergen exposure (ear), whereas distal treatment (abdomen) failed to proliferate Tregs at the ear.
  • Interestingly, abdominal microparticle treatments followed by allergen exposure is capable of eliciting a systemic hyporesponsiveness that significantly reduces ear swelling when exposed to subsequent allergen challenges without any local prophylaxis.
  • This experimental data in mice suggests that prophylactic treatment during exposure and sensitization to a particular allergen could significantly suppresses immune dysfunction upon subsequent exposures anywhere on the body.
  • Considering that PEG-PLGA microparticle treatments can induce specific Tregs to suppress specific allergen mediated response, this modality offers a promising translatable novel treatment concept that could be used to decrease immune reactivity to known allergens inducing dermatitis.

 

For original article please visit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28694031 or http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365917307046?via%3Dihub

Free Webinar – Complementary-Alternative Tx for eczema

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Webinar – Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Eczema
If you’ve ever looked up “how to treat eczema” on the internet, no doubt you’ve seen every type of diet, herb or ointment under the sun. Dr. Peter Lio is here to clear up the confusion by presenting those complementary and alternative eczema treatments that are shown to be effective through rigorous, scientific research. Register for free today.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017
5:00 p.m. PDT/7:00 p.m. CDT/8 p.m. EDT

Presenter
Peter A. Lio, M.D.
Clinical Assistant of Dermatology and Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Moderator
Karey Gauthier, M.S.
Associate Director of Communications, National Eczema Association