Experimental Dermatology最新文献

{"title":"Itching Sensation and Elevated Interleukin-31 Levels as Potential Indicators of Exceptional Response to Biologics in Patients With Moderate-To-Severe Psoriasis","authors":"Young Joon Park,&nbsp;Han-Seul Kim,&nbsp;Soo-Jin Lee,&nbsp;Eun Yang Choi,&nbsp;Sun Woo Son,&nbsp;Eun-So Lee","doi":"10.1111/exd.70138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70138","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Although the introduction of biologics has significantly changed the psoriasis treatment paradigm, predicting which patients will respond favourably to biologics remains a challenge. Our study aimed to retrospectively investigate the characteristics of ‘exceptional responders’ (ERs), that is, patients who achieve a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 100 between weeks 16 and 28 of their initial evaluation period. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records and clinical photographs of 139 patients with psoriasis. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected and analysed. Peripheral blood samples previously obtained from consenting individuals (<i>n</i> = 10 for each group) were used to compare the serum concentrations of interleukin-31 (IL-31), lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), between ERs and non-ERs. We observed no significant differences in nail involvement, arthralgia, mean body mass index, or baseline PASI between ERs and non-ERs. Notably, the occurrence of itching was significantly higher in the ER group than in the non-ER group. The IL-31 concentration displayed a concomitant increase with the intensity of itching and was significantly higher in ERs than in non-ERs prior to the initiation of biologics. After treatment, a significant decrease in IL-31 levels was observed in the ER group but not in the non-ER group. While both LCN2 and CCL2 levels decreased significantly after treatment in both groups, they did not exhibit clear distinctions that could differentiate between ERs and non-ERs. Baseline IL-31, combined with itch intensity, discriminated ERs from non-ERs. Clinicians should recognise that patients presenting with pruritus and high serum IL-31 levels may respond exceptionally well to biological agents, whereas those without pruritus and with lower IL-31 levels tend to have a more subtle response.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70138","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144647637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ruxolitinib Alleviates Inflammation and Fortifies Skin Barrier Function Through Dampening IL-13","authors":"Li Fang Koh,&nbsp;Muhammad Jasrie Firdaus,&nbsp;Yohei Natsuaki,&nbsp;Sho Hanakawa,&nbsp;Khek-Chian Tham,&nbsp;Declan P. Lunny,&nbsp;Belle L. H. Yap,&nbsp;Satoshi Nakamizo,&nbsp;Eori Nam,&nbsp;Ji Eun Lee,&nbsp;Ying Xiu Toh,&nbsp;Nelson M. H. Teo,&nbsp;Thiam Chye Lim,&nbsp;E. Birgitte Lane,&nbsp;Kenji Kabashima,&nbsp;Baptiste Janela,&nbsp;John E. Common","doi":"10.1111/exd.70132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70132","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disorder characterized by an impaired skin barrier, dysregulated immune system and pruritis. Emerging pharmaceutical therapies for AD include selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors such as ruxolitinib, the first dual JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ruxolitinib on AD-related symptoms using mouse and human skin models. AD-related symptoms were assessed in MC903/ruxolitinib-treated mice, including ear swelling, histological analysis, pruritus, serum biomarker quantification and immune cell analysis. Additionally, immunohistochemistry and transcriptome analysis were conducted on AD-related cytokine-treated reconstructed human skin (RHS) and ruxolitinib-treated human skin explants with and without tape-stripping. Ruxolitinib-treated mice exhibited reduced inflammation, including decreased ear swelling and diminished pruritus. Furthermore, reductions in immune cell populations, including T cells and serum biomarker IL-13, were observed in ruxolitinib-treated mice. Transcriptome analysis revealed increased STAT3 expression and decreased skin barrier gene FLG in AD-related cytokine-treated RHS. Regardless of tape stripping, ruxolitinib-treated skin explants exhibited decreased <i>IL13RA1</i> expression and increased expression of skin barrier genes <i>FLG</i>, <i>FLG2</i> and <i>LOR</i>. Ruxolitinib treatment in mice resulted in decreased inflammation and pruritus, along with increased expression of skin barrier proteins through downregulation of IL-13. Consistently, ruxolitinib-treated human skin explants demonstrated enhanced expression of skin barrier proteins, while IL-13 treatment of RHS led to downregulation of these proteins. These findings support data from human clinical trials indicating reduced SCORAD, pruritus and inflammatory phenotypes in AD patients treated with ruxolitinib.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144647638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of Anti-IgG Antibody Responses to the 17-kDa Outer Membrane Protein of Rickettsia japonica in Individuals From a High-Risk Area for Japanese Spotted Fever","authors":"Makoto Kondo,&nbsp;Koji Habe,&nbsp;Keiichi Yamanaka","doi":"10.1111/exd.70140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study evaluated the seroprevalence and persistence of IgG antibodies against <i>Rickettsia japonica</i>'s outer membrane protein (Omp) using a recombinant 17-kDa antigen and Western blot analysis in residents of Minamiise, Japan—a high-incidence Japanese spotted fever (JSF) area—and in individuals from non-endemic regions. Antibody titres against the Omp antigen declined within approximately 2 years post-infection, and the Omp epitope was not consistently recognised among confirmed JSF cases. Unexpectedly, a considerable proportion of individuals without documented JSF—including those from non-endemic areas—tested positive for anti-Omp antibodies. These findings raise concerns about the specificity of Omp-based serological assays, which may cross-react with other spotted fever group rickettsiae, such as <i>Rickettsia tamurae</i>, sharing 97.48% amino acid identity with <i>R. japonica</i>. The results suggest possible asymptomatic or past infections with <i>R. japonica</i> or related species and underscore the need for cautious interpretation of anti-Omp antibody test results in both endemic and non-endemic settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144647612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lipase M Is Essential for Skin Barrier Function in Mice","authors":"Hong-Ming Zhou,&nbsp;Jinan Li,&nbsp;Shaohui Liu,&nbsp;Miguel Barriera Diaz,&nbsp;Qun Wang,&nbsp;Emma H. Doud,&nbsp;Whitney Smith-Kinnaman,&nbsp;Derrick A. Gray,&nbsp;Sou Shirai,&nbsp;Keisuke Jojima,&nbsp;Akio Kihara,&nbsp;Bo Zhao,&nbsp;Matthew J. Turner","doi":"10.1111/exd.70133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70133","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A functional skin barrier is essential for restricting water losses for terrestrial animals. The outermost layer of this barrier, the stratum corneum, consists of corneocytes (derived from terminally differentiated keratinocytes) coated with a protein-rich envelope and a conjugated lipid-rich envelope embedded in an organised hydrophobic intercellular lipid matrix. Gene mutations and environmental insults that affect corneocyte formation or the intercellular lipid matrix organisation cause skin barrier defects in mice and humans. Here we demonstrate mice homozygous for a loss-of-function mutation in the <i>Lipm</i> gene exhibit a diminished and discontinuous intercellular lipid matrix and a profound skin barrier defect associated with neonatal lethality. These findings suggest the protein encoded by the <i>Lipm</i> gene, lipase M (LIPM), is essential for skin barrier function by impacting intercellular lipid matrix organisation in the stratum corneum.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70133","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144589520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New Methodological Approach to Follow the Re-Epithelialisation Phase in the Wound Healing Process on a 3D Full Thickness Skin Model","authors":"Bénédicte Fallou,&nbsp;Mylène Pelleter,&nbsp;Florence Innamorato,&nbsp;Mickaël Roche,&nbsp;Michel Bataillon","doi":"10.1111/exd.70137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70137","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Scratch assays are commonly used as screening tools to assess the skin regenerative potential of new active ingredients; however, they lack the complexity of 3D stratified epidermis. Previously, a 3D migration model was developed to mimic the re-epithelialisation, especially phase III and IV of the wound healing process. To monitor the regenerative process on this model, Papanicolaou staining paired with histological observation at each day of the study was used. Unfortunately, the potential of this 3D model as a screening tool was limited since this methodology is time consuming, and its invasive nature implicates a large number of samples and high variability. An alternative method allowing evaluation of re-epithelialisation in 3D would circumvent these limitations and consolidate the in vitro evaluation model. This study introduces a novel methodology employing non-invasive Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and image processing algorithms, combined with a final quantification of the histological quality, to evaluate re-epithelialisation in a 3D skin model. OCT technology showed a high correlation to the previously described Papanicolaou staining technique. Moreover, two pro-epithelialisation compounds, oncostatin M (OSM) and ascorbic acid (VITC), were used as positive controls, bestowing the model with different repair profiles. This approach represents a significant advancement over traditional methods by proposing a reliable and robust evaluation method, extending the capability of the 3D in vitro model as a potential screening tool to understand the mechanisms of action of pro-epithelialisation actives in the process of skin regeneration and healing.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144573225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Early Detection of Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CSCC): Integrating AI With Histopathological Assessments","authors":"E. M. Bramer,&nbsp;C. Chia,&nbsp;B. Rentroia-Pacheco,&nbsp;S. Tokez,&nbsp;L. Pijnenborg,&nbsp;J. Damman,&nbsp;A. Amir,&nbsp;D. Kumar,&nbsp;L. M. Hollestein,&nbsp;A. L. Mooyaart,&nbsp;M. Wakkee","doi":"10.1111/exd.70135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70135","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) patients at high risk for metastasis are insufficiently identified with current staging systems. Advances in digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) might assist by extracting detailed and reproducible predictive features from haematoxylin and eosin slides. We evaluated a multi-step convolutional neural network (CNN) as an assistive tool to provide detailed complementary histopathological variables towards identifying high-risk CSCC. Using a nested case–control design, we studied patients diagnosed with primary CSCC in the Netherlands from 2007 to 2018, with metastatic patients as cases and non-metastatic patients as controls. The dataset was divided into a development set (130 patients) and an evaluation set (244 patients). Four elaborative variables were derived from a CNN model for object detection and semantic segmentation, complementing six dermatopathologist-scored histopathological variables. Dermatopathologists involved were blinded to the outcomes. We assessed the efficacy of these variables using multivariable logistic regression (MR) models and odds ratios (OR) for metastatic CSCC on the evaluation set. The MR model fitting was assessed using the pairwise concordance index (C-index). The combined dermatopathologist-AI model yielded the highest C-index (0.92 [0.87–0.95]). Significant variables in the combined model included model-derived tumour area (OR 1.35 [1.00–1.84]) which complemented scored tumour diameter (OR 1.54 [0.75–3.17]) and model-derived nuclei density (OR 3.14 [1.08–9.17]) as a counterpart of scored tumour differentiation grades (OR 10.6 [3.01–37.0] and 11.5 [2.95–44.5]). The CNN model can derive detailed and reproducible histopathological variables associated with metastatic risk in CSCC, complementing the current pathologist-based assessment and enhancing the identification of high-risk CSCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70135","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144550848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence and Clinical Characteristics of Active Tuberculosis in Psoriasis Patients From a High-Burden Setting: An 18-Year Retrospective Study of 86 Patients","authors":"Suphattra Trakanwittayarak,&nbsp;Leena Chularojanamontri,&nbsp;Chayada Chaiyabutre,&nbsp;Narumol Silpa-archa,&nbsp;Chanisada Wongpraparut,&nbsp;Praveena Chiowchanwisawakit","doi":"10.1111/exd.70134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70134","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Real-world data on concurrent psoriasis and active tuberculosis (TB) remain limited, particularly in high TB-burden settings. This retrospective study evaluated the incidence, prevalence, and clinical characteristics of psoriasis patients with active TB who had received topical or systemic treatments. Medical records from 13 066 psoriasis patients who presented at Siriraj Hospital over 18 years were reviewed. Among these, 86 (0.66%) developed active TB, yielding an incidence range of 135–1332 per 100 000 psoriasis patients. The mean patient age was 50.4 <b>±</b> 15.7 years; 63 were men and 23 were women. Pulmonary TB occurred in 55 patients (64.0%), whereas 31 (36.0%) developed extrapulmonary TB. Male sex and smoking were associated with pulmonary TB. The most common pulmonary symptoms were chronic cough (65.5%) and dyspnoea (60.0%), although 7.3% were asymptomatic. Time to TB onset was shorter for extrapulmonary cases (5.7 <b>±</b> 5.1 years) than for pulmonary cases (7.4 <b>±</b> 6.5 years), but this difference was not statistically significant. Extrapulmonary disease most frequently involved the lymph node and pleura (25.8%) or the gastrointestinal tract (16.1%). Notably, all four patients who received infliximab within 1 year before TB diagnosis developed extrapulmonary TB. In conclusion, the incidence of TB in psoriasis patients in endemic regions may be high. Geographic factors, sex, smoking, and treatment history appear to influence TB risk. Close monitoring is critical, particularly in high-burden settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70134","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Humanised Mice in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis—T-Cell Recruitment Into Human Skin Transplants After Leishmania major Infection","authors":"Ling Miao,&nbsp;Henning Klapproth,&nbsp;Michael R. Stepkes,&nbsp;Joanna Wegner,&nbsp;Esther von Stebut","doi":"10.1111/exd.70131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70131","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Treatment against leishmaniasis is associated with severe side effects, high costs, and parasitic resistance. Preclinical models such as humanised mice would aid therapeutic improvement or the development of a vaccine. We developed a model in which human skin transplants on immunodeficient mice are infected with <i>Leishmania major</i>. Parasite inoculation of the skin transplant led to a robust infection with increasing numbers of parasites in the skin and visceral organs. In addition, intraperitoneally co-administered allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were strongly recruited to skin lesions, with ≥ 65% of the cells being positive for anti-human CD45; we identified ~20% CD4⁺ and ~50% CD8⁺ human T cells. The number of skin-resident macrophages or dendritic cells was unaltered compared to healthy skin prior to transplantation, and PBMC administration did not alter their numbers. Together, we show that parasitic infection provides a strong inflammatory signal that leads to recruitment of T cells into skin transplants. The presence of antigen-presenting cells in the transplants—as an important prerequisite for proper APC-T-cell interaction—recreates a fully human skin microenvironment that allows for stroma/immune cell interactions upon infection. This model may be of high interest to researchers interested in translating skin research questions into the human system in vivo.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70131","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Precision at the Cutting Edge: Ex Vivo Confocal Microscopy for Perioperative Tumour Thickness Assessment in Melanoma","authors":"D. Hartmann,&nbsp;A. Swarlik,&nbsp;L. Buttgereit,&nbsp;L. Stärr,&nbsp;K. Kerl-French,&nbsp;M. Flaig,&nbsp;E. C. Sattler,&nbsp;L. E. French,&nbsp;M. Deußing","doi":"10.1111/exd.70136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70136","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ex vivo confocal laser microscopy (EVCM) represents a promising diagnostic tool for the immediate assessment of fresh tissue, with significant potential for the management of melanoma. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of EVCM in determining perioperative tumour thickness, a critical factor in guiding treatment strategies for melanoma. A total of 27 confirmed melanomas of varying thickness and from multiple anatomic sites were analysed using both EVCM and gold standard conventional histopathology. Tumour thickness was independently measured using confocal tumour thickness (CTT) and histopathological tumour thickness (HTT) and subsequently compared using correlation analysis, Spearman's correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman plot. Our findings demonstrate a high correlation between HTT and CTT, with a Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.94. Bland–Altman analysis revealed a mean difference of −0.19 ± 0.72 mm between CTT and HTT, indicating a strong agreement between the two measurement methods. These results underscore the potential of EVCM as a reliable tool for perioperative evaluation of tumour thickness in melanoma, potentially streamlining the decision-making process for surgical margins and improving patient outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate these findings and explore the broader applicability of EVCM in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/exd.70136","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Staphylococcus aureus Promotes Cutaneous Lesions in Patients With Epidermolysis Bullosa","authors":"Qin Zeng,&nbsp;Shucui Wang,&nbsp;Nadira Nurxat,&nbsp;Xuemeng Min,&nbsp;Yanan Guo,&nbsp;Fuying Chen,&nbsp;Weitao Tang,&nbsp;Yali Yang,&nbsp;Qian Liu,&nbsp;Ming Li","doi":"10.1111/exd.70129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70129","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare, heterogeneous congenital conditions characterised by epidermal fragility, resulting in blister formation and lesions. Patients with EB are prone to developing cutaneous wounds. However, the composition of the EB skin microbiome in Chinese individuals remains poorly understood. The objective was to investigate the EB skin microbiome in Chinese individuals. The clinical symptoms and laboratory tests were collected for a total of 29 EB patients (23 Recessive Dystrophic EB, 3 EB simplex, 2 Kindler syndrome, and 1 Dominant Dystrophic EB). A total of 120 swabs were collected from 62 lesion sites, 29 non-lesion skin areas, and 29 nostrils. These samples underwent 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and bacterial culture. The epidemiology of <i>S. aureus</i> was characterised, and its features were analysed using an animal model. Patients with EB exhibited a characteristic inflammatory response, marked by cutaneous lesions and elevated levels of <i>C</i>-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid (SAA). Consistently, skin dysbiosis in EB patients was characterised by a predominance of <i>S. aureus</i>, particularly sequence type (ST) 7. Specifically, the abundance of <i>S. aureus</i> showed a positive correlation with EB severity and activity. Mechanistically, <i>S. aureus</i> isolated from lesional skin exhibited higher virulence due to increased accessory gene regulator (Agr) activity. Our study reported altered bacterial diversity and increased carriage of higher-virulence <i>S. aureus</i> in Chinese EB patients, which may potentially influence disease severity through microbiome alterations. Our findings suggested that maintaining the balance of the microbiome is crucial for optimising patient care.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12243,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Dermatology","volume":"34 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144473037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}