The number of patients with atopic dermatitis is increasing year by year, and in Japan it has doubled compared to 25 years ago.It is said that mites account for about 8% of the causes, but the mechanism of onset of atopic dermatitis caused by mites has not yet been elucidated.

　In this study, we analyzed the genomic genes of mice that spontaneously develop atopic dermatitis caused by mites, and found more than 7 gene mutations.Among them, we found that a mutation in the gene Clec10a (Asgr1 in humans) expressed in skin macrophages causes the onset of atopic dermatitis caused by mites.

　Furthermore, analysis of Clec10a gene-deficient mice revealed that they were more likely to develop mite-induced atopic dermatitis than wild-type mice, and that Clec10a suppressed mite-induced atopic dermatitis.

　Detailed analysis also revealed that mites contain a molecule called LPS (endotoxin) that induces atopic dermatitis and a mucin-like molecule (a large molecular weight glycoprotein containing a large amount of sugar) that suppresses this. rice field. While LPS activates skin macrophages and causes atopic symptoms, mucin-like molecules are said to bind to Clec10a and suppress it, and in fact, mucin-like molecules that bind to Clec10a are extracted from ticks. When applied to atopic dermatitis, the symptoms were alleviated.

　The mucin-like molecule to which Clec10a (Asgr1) binds is promising as a new concept therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis.In the future, by discovering and formulating the most effective mucin-like molecule, it is expected that new therapeutic drug options can be provided to intractable patients who are ineffective with conventional drugs.

Paper information:[Science Immunology] Clec 10a regulates mite-induced dermatitis