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Nerve
Growth Factor, Neuropeptides and Cutaneous Nerves in Atopic
Dermatitis
Abeer Hodeib1,
Zeinab Abd El-Samad1, Hesham Hanafy1, Amani
Abd El-Latief1, Amal El-bendary2, Azza
Abu-Raya3
Departments of Dermatology and Venereology1, Clinical
Pathology2 & Histology3, Tanta University,
Egypt
Tanta Med. Sc. J 2008; 3(2):66-73
Article type: Original article
Background/Aim: Neurogenic components, as neurotrophic factors and
neuropeptides, are probably involved in the pathogenesis of atopic
dermatitis (AD) with the neuroimmunocutaneous system as they modify
the functions of immunoactive cells in the skin. Nerve growth factor
(NGF) is the best-characterized member of the neurotrophin family.
Both NGF and neuropepties may be associated with the disease
pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the plasma level
of NGF and NPs in AD patients and to correlate them with the disease
activity and with the nerve changes in the skin by electron
microscopy. Patients & Methods: Plasma levels of NGF and vasoactive
intestinal peptide (+VIP) were measured by an immunoenzymatic assay
while plasma levels of calcitonine gene related peptide (CGRP) and
neuropeptide Y (NPY) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 30 AD
patients in comparison to 10 normal non-atopic controls. Electron
microscopic study was done in 10 AD patients. Results: It has been
found that there is significant increase of plasma levels of NGF and
NPs in AD patients compared with controls. There is a positive
correlation between the plasma levels of NGF and disease activity
(correlation coefficient=0.750, P<0.005). There is a significant
correlation of the number of Schwann axon complex, evidenced by
electron microscopic examination and plasma level of NGF in AD
patients. Conclusion: Neurogenic factors; NGF and NPs modulate the
allergic response in AD, probably through interactions with cells of
the immune-inflammatory component. NGF might be considered as a
marker of the disease activity. |