Xerosis is associated with asthma in men independent of atopic dermatitis and filaggrin gene mutations

TY - JOUR

T1 - Xerosis is associated with asthma in men independent of atopic dermatitis and filaggrin gene mutations

AU - Engebretsen, K A

AU - Linneberg, Allan René

AU - Thuesen, B H

AU - Szecsi, P B

AU - Stender, S

AU - Menné, Thorkild

AU - Johansen, Jeanne Duus

AU - Thyssen, Jacob Pontoppidan

N1 - © 2015 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

PY - 2015/9/1

Y1 - 2015/9/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Epidermal filaggrin deficiency due to common filaggrin gene (FLG) mutations causes xerosis and strongly increases the risk of atopic dermatitis and even asthma. However, it is unknown whether xerosis independent of FLG mutations could also increase the risk of asthma.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether generalized xerosis was associated with asthma, independent of atopic dermatitis and common FLG mutations in a cross-sectional study on adult Danes.METHODS: A total of 3396 adults from the general population participated in a health examination. Lung function and serum-specific IgE levels to inhalant allergens were measured and information on xerosis and atopic diseases was obtained by means of a questionnaire. Participants were genotypes for the three most common FLG mutations in Northern Europeans: R501X, 2282del4 and R2447X.RESULTS: Fully adjusted logistic regression analyses showed that asthma (either current or at some point in life) was significantly associated with reporting generalized xerosis (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.02-1.72). The association was stronger in men (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.13-2.84) when compared to women (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.86-1.62). Furthermore, a significant association was observed between xerosis and 'allergic asthma' in men (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.08-4.19).CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate an association between xerosis and asthma in men independent of atopic dermatitis and FLG mutations. Both facilitated allergen sensitization and secondary degradation of filaggrin following T-helper cell 2 inflammation might be key elements to understanding this relationship.

AB - BACKGROUND: Epidermal filaggrin deficiency due to common filaggrin gene (FLG) mutations causes xerosis and strongly increases the risk of atopic dermatitis and even asthma. However, it is unknown whether xerosis independent of FLG mutations could also increase the risk of asthma.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether generalized xerosis was associated with asthma, independent of atopic dermatitis and common FLG mutations in a cross-sectional study on adult Danes.METHODS: A total of 3396 adults from the general population participated in a health examination. Lung function and serum-specific IgE levels to inhalant allergens were measured and information on xerosis and atopic diseases was obtained by means of a questionnaire. Participants were genotypes for the three most common FLG mutations in Northern Europeans: R501X, 2282del4 and R2447X.RESULTS: Fully adjusted logistic regression analyses showed that asthma (either current or at some point in life) was significantly associated with reporting generalized xerosis (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.02-1.72). The association was stronger in men (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.13-2.84) when compared to women (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.86-1.62). Furthermore, a significant association was observed between xerosis and 'allergic asthma' in men (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.08-4.19).CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate an association between xerosis and asthma in men independent of atopic dermatitis and FLG mutations. Both facilitated allergen sensitization and secondary degradation of filaggrin following T-helper cell 2 inflammation might be key elements to understanding this relationship.

U2 - 10.1111/jdv.13051

DO - 10.1111/jdv.13051

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25712346

SN - 0926-9959

VL - 29

SP - 1807

EP - 1815

JO - Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

JF - Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

IS - 9

ER -