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Psoriasin upregulation in atopic dermatitis and after skin barrier disruption

A study in 12 patients (aged 2-41 years) with atopic dermatitis (AD) and 12 age- and gender-matched controls investigated the functional role of the S-100 protein psoriasin. An up to 1,500-fold increase in secreted psoriasin was found on the surface of AD skin compared to skin of healthy controls. Epidermal barrier disruption also significantly increased psoriasin expression after tape stripping in healthy volunteers. Psoriasis preferentially kills Escherichia coli, which may explain why AD patients rarely suffer from E. coli skin infections (Glaser, R. et al. J Invest Dermatol 2009, 129( 3): 641).