V. Staniek, C. Liebich, E. Vocks, S. G. Odia, J. D. Doutremepuich, J. Ring, A. Claudy, D. Schmitt, L. Misery
DOI: 10.1080/000155598433386

Atopic dermatitis is a pruritic inflammatory skin disorder, involving immunological and non-immunological factors. Substance P seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Substance P-containing nerve fibers are increased in the lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis and a reduced weal and flare reaction to intradermal injection of substance P has been observed. We investigated the distribution of substance P receptors in the involved skin of patients before and after single or repetitive UVA irradiations. Our results indicate that substance P receptors of the NK-1 subtype are expressed on blood vessels and on epidermal keratinocytes of involved skin of patients with atopic dermatitis. UVA irradiations did not modify the epidermal distribution of substance P receptors but decreased their expression intensity on blood vessels. UVA irradiations seem to decrease skin inflammation through the modulation of NK-1 receptor expression on endothelial cells.