Novel therapeutic strategies for atopic dermatitis

• Project/Area Number: 25860926
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: HAMASAKA ASUKA 北海道大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 客員研究員 (60598382)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: アトピー性皮膚炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I aimed to establish a new therapeutic strategy for atopic dermatitis by increasing filaggrin expression in the epidermis of the patients. I confirmed that some of the AD patients are heterozygous for nonsense or frameshift mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin. These results suggest a possibility that compounds that up-regulate the filaggrin gene promoter can be a potent therapeutic option for atopic dermatitis. This novel therapeutic approach may also be effective for prevention of atopic dermatitis.