Association between autoimmune reactions and severity of atopic dermatitis in children with herpes virus infection

BACKGROUND Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) can develop autoantibodies against intracellular proteins. AD patients often suffer from herpes viruses (HV) infection which complicates the inflammatory process in the skin. The aim of the study was to reveal IgE and IgG antibodies (abs) specific to some skin antigens and to compare their levels with the severity of AD with HV infection in children. METHODS IgE and IgG abs specific to tissue antigens, total IgE, IgE-abs to environmental common allergens as well as IgG abs specific to HV were detected in serum samples by ELISA in 157 AD children. RESULTS IgE and IgG antibody production to keratin and elastin was observed in children with AD and elevated proportionally to the severity of AD. IgG - abs to herpes simplex virus was increased in children and associated with the severity of clinical course of AD. CONCLUSION Our data shown that clinical course of severe AD is accompanied with autoimmune response to epidermal antigens (keratin and elastin). Elevated levels of the autoantibodies, especially against the background of HV infection may be useful serological parameter for monitoring of the disease activity.