Allergy link to skin conditions

Wednesday July 27th, 2011

Researchers have found an allergy clue to the skin condition psoriasis - suggesting it may have a lot in common with allergic eczema.

The German discovery may provoke a new search for the causes of psoriasis.

Dr Stefanie Eyerich and Dr Kilian Eyerich at the Centre for Allergy and Environment in Munich, Germany, looked at three patients with both conditions. Although the diseases are common, it is rare to suffer from them together.

They found that both are triggered by inflammation caused by so-called "T-cells" in the immune system.

T-cells are part of the body's immune memory. The cells learn from experience to recognise substances that invade the body. But they can react strongly to harmless substances like pollen and house-dust mites, causing allergic eczema. The substances that cause psoriasis are still unknown.

Experts already knew that T-cells are found in large numbers where skin is affected by eczema and psoriasis, but did not know if they caused the problems.

This research is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The authors write: "These findings support a causative role for T cells triggered by specific antigens in both psoriasis and atopic eczema." This discovery "marks a milestone in research into the cause of these widespread diseases", they believe.

The experts are now trying to discover exactly which T-cell molecules are responsible for triggering the conditions.

Eventually, this could lead to better treatment, adds Professor Carsten Schmidt-Weber, from the same research centre. "Clearly, future therapy strategies should focus on the impairment of the immunological memory," he said.

Eyerich, S. et al. Mutual Antagonism of T Cells Causing Psoriasis and Atopic Eczema. The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 365, July 21, 2011, pp. 231-38.

Tags: Allergies & Asthma | Dermatology | Europe

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