A protein that plays significant roles in the pathogenesis
of atopic dermatitis has been identified, Prof. Kiyofumi Yamanishi at Hyogo
College of Medicine and other researchers have announced.
Their finding is expected to pave the way for the
development of a new medicine for the disease as the increase of the protein
was found to trigger skin inflammation and itchiness, according to Yamanishi. A
paper describing the research was carried in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
The research team involving Yamanishi focused on interleukin
33 (IL-33), a protein previously known to be produced in high quantities in the
skin of atopic dermatitis patients although its functions had been almost
unknown. In their study, the team created transgenic mice whose bodies produce
about 10 times more IL-33 than normal mice.