Inflammasome pathways in atopic dermatitis: insights into inflammatory mechanisms and therapeutic targets^*

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by a complex interaction between genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. The combination of immune dysregulation and skin barrier dysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The inflammasome, an important intracellular complex of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), plays a crucial role in the cutaneous inflammatory response, activating caspase-1 and promoting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. The role of inflammasome components in regulating the inflammatory response in AD highlights how the activation of these complexes exacerbates inflammation and contributes to the worsening of the disease and tissue damage. The review included observational and experimental studies investigating inflammasome activation in AD and other inflammatory skin diseases. The main mechanisms of inflammasome activation and their impact on the inflammatory environment and skin barrier integrity were discussed. Understanding the role of the inflammasome in AD is essential for the development of new therapeutic approaches aimed at both modulating the immune response and restoring the skin barrier, improving more effective clinical management and patients’ quality of life.

KEYWORDS
Cytokines; Dermatitis; atopic; Immunity; innate; Inflammasomes