Dataset Information

Integrated Clinical Trial and Molecular Profiling Reveals Immune Drivers of Chronic Hand Eczema

ABSTRACT: Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a painful, itchy and inflammatory skin disease of multifactorial origin. CHE can be categorized based on etiology and/or clinical presentation, including intertwined atopic-contact eczema-psoriasis traits, making it challenging to diagnose and treat. While being the most frequent work-related dermatosis, the underlying immune mechanisms remain unclear. Here we performed a randomized controlled study comparing dupilumab and placebo and demonstrated that CHE is a type 2 immunity driven disease, regardless of etiological factors or clinical presentation. We conducted a comprehensive molecular profiling of CHE patients of all etiologies and morphologies to identify potential common features and evaluated the consequences of blocking IL-4Rα during 16 weeks. This phase 2b randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 94 adults with moderate to severe CHE persisting for at least six months and resistant to potent topical corticosteroids. We found that CHE patients share complex transcriptomic signatures with those of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients, with dysregulated genes involved in skin barrier, leukocyte migration, cytotoxicity, type 1, 2 and 3 immunity. Compared to placebo control, 16-week dupilumab treatment significantly improved clinical severity and quality of life of CHE patients, while largely restoring appropriate transcriptomic and proteomic programs related to skin barrier and immune homeostasis. These findings demonstrate that IL-4Rα signaling is a critical regulator of CHE pathological features, independent of atopic dermatitis background or environmental triggers, and propose reclassifying CHE as a type 2 immune disorder, with dupilumab or IL-4/13 targeted therapy as the mainstay treatment for moderate to severe disease.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE279422 | GEO | 2026/01/24

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
		Other

Items per page:

1 - 1 of 1

Similar Datasets

Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.

Project description:Background: Dupilumab is an IL-4 receptor a mAb inhibiting signaling of IL-4 and IL-13, key drivers of type 2-driven inflammation, as demonstrated by its efficacy in patients with atopic/allergic diseases. Objective: This placebo-controlled, double-blind trial (NCT01979016) evaluated the efficacy, safety, and effects of dupilumab on molecular/cellular lesional and nonlesional skin phenotypes and systemic type 2 biomarkers of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: Skin biopsy specimens and blood were evaluated from 54 patients randomized 1:1 to weekly subcutaneous doses of 200 mg of dupilumab or placebo for 16 weeks. Results: Dupilumab (vs placebo) significantly improved clinical signs and symptoms of AD, was well tolerated, and progressively shifted the lesional transcriptome toward a nonlesional phenotype (weeks 4-16). Mean improvements in a meta-analysis-derived AD transcriptome (genes differentially expressed between lesional and nonlesional skin) were 68.8% and 110.8% with dupilumab and 210.5% and 55.0% with placebo (weeks 4 and 16, respectively; P < .001). Dupilumab significantly reduced expression of genes involved in type 2 inflammation (IL13, IL31, CCL17, CCL18, and CCL26), epidermal hyperplasia (keratin 16 [K16] and MKi67), T cells, dendritic cells (ICOS, CD11c, and CTLA4), and Th17/Th22 activity (IL17A, IL-22, and S100As) and concurrently increased expression of epidermal differentiation, barrier, and lipid metabolism genes (filaggrin [FLG], loricrin [LOR], claudins, and ELOVL3). Dupilumab reduced lesional epidermal thickness versus placebo (week 4, P 5 .001; week 16, P 5 .0002). Improvements in clinical and histologic measures correlated significantly with modulation of gene expression. Dupilumab also significantly suppressed type 2 serum biomarkers, including CCL17, CCL18, periostin, and total and allergen- specific IgEs. Conclusion: Dupilumab-mediated inhibition of IL-4/IL-13 signaling through IL-4 receptor a blockade significantly and progressively improved disease activity, suppressed cellular/ molecular cutaneous markers of inflammation and systemic measures of type 2 inflammation, and reversed AD-associated epidermal abnormalities. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019;143:155-72.)

Dataset Information

Integrated Clinical Trial and Molecular Profiling Reveals Immune Drivers of Chronic Hand Eczema

Dataset's files

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets