2023 Vichy Exposome Grant Research Americas

2023 Vichy Exposome Grant Research Americas

« INSIDE – OUT, A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE SKIN EXPOSOME: EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITE COLONIZATION OR INFECTION ON THE GUT BACTERIAL MICROBIOME AND THE SEVERITY OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS »

María Fernanda Ordóñez-Rubiano, MD
Universidad El Bosque
Bogotá - Colombia

The study of the skin-gut axis is increasingly important due to its potential therapeutic implications and lifestyle interventions that can yield results in skin health1. One of the most prevalent skin diseases with important public health implications is atopic dermatitis (AD) and, recently, the influence of the gut and its microbiome on this disease has emerged as a novel, dynamic and promising field of research2.

The effect of parasites on AD remains unclear. These microorganisms have been poorly studied, and their role in the disease is far from being understood3. Some studies indicate that infections with certain helminths may provide protection against allergic disorders4, while others may increase the risk of developing the disease5. Associations between AD and protozoa has also been observed6.

The objective of this study is to investigate the interaction between intestinal parasites and the gut bacterial microbiome and understand how this component of the "internal" exposome influences the skin-gut axis in the disease. This will be accomplished through extensive sociodemographic characterization, examination of relevant variables associated with the disease, and analysis of the "external" exposome in individuals with varying severities of AD.

Additionally, stool samples will be collected for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites (by microscopy and PCR) and the analysis of the bacterial microbiome (by NGS). The obtained data will undergo comprehensive bioinformatics analysis to characterize the "internal" exposome in detail.

1. Mahmud MdR, Akter S, Tamanna SK, et al. Impact of gut microbiome on skin health: gut-skin axis observed through the lenses of therapeutics and skin diseases. Gut Microbes. 2022;14(1). doi:10.1080/19490976.2022.2096995
2. Lee SY, Lee E, Park YM, Hong SJ. Microbiome in the Gut-Skin Axis in Atopic Dermatitis. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10(4):354-362. doi:10.4168/aair.2018.10.4.354
3. Feary J, Britton J, Leonardi-Bee J. Atopy and current intestinal parasite infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Allergy. 2011;66(4):569-578. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02512.x
4. Salem I, Ramser A, Isham N, Ghannoum MA. The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut- Skin Axis. Front Microbiol. 2018;9. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459
5. Ellis SR, Nguyen M, Vaughn AR, et al. The Skin and Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Common Dermatologic Conditions. Microorganisms. 2019;7(11). doi:10.3390/microorganisms7110550
6. McKenzie C, Tan J, Macia L, Mackay CR. The nutrition-gut microbiome-physiology axis and allergic diseases. Immunol Rev. 2017;278(1):277-295. doi:10.1111/imr.12556


« ASSESSING PATIENTS WITH ROSACEA COMORBIDITIES: FOOD HABITS, INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA AND SERUM CATHELICIDIN LEVELS »

Renan Rangel Bonamigo, MD
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre - Brazil

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin and eye disease that primarily affects the center of the face (although extra-facial manifestations occur, also). It is characterized by symptoms such as erythema, edema, telangiectasias, papules and pustules. While the exact causes of rosacea are not fully understood, it is believed to be influenced by various factors including immunological and genetic factors, vascular dysregulation, environmental triggers, dietary factors, and the action of microorganisms. Recent studies have also highlighted the role of the intestinal microbiome in the development of rosacea, possibly through the stimulation of the mTOR pathway. There is an increased incidence of rosacea in individuals with gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases and patients with rosacea have been found to have higher levels of cathelicidins (antimicrobial and pro-inflammatory peptides).

Building upon this background, the present project aims to investigate the relationship between comorbidities, microbiome profile, serum cathelicidin levels, and diet in patients with rosacea. This case-control study will involve the clinical and laboratory evaluation of patients with rosacea and include the analysis of fecal samples to determine the composition of the intestinal microbiota, a food questionnaire to assess dietary patterns, and the measurement of serum cathelicidin levels. These investigations are intended to provide a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of rosacea, as well as its potential systemic implications.


« EXPLORING THE EXPOSOME: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE IMPACT OF INTESTINAL PARASITES COLONIZATION OR INFECTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF SECRETORY IGA IN ATOPIC DERMATITIS AND ITS SEVERITY »

Mariana Botero Varón, MD
Universidad El Bosque
Bogotá – Colombia

Parasites have been proposed as an important component of the exposome in Atopic Dermatitis (AD), mainly because of their capacity to regulate the immune response1.  However, the evidence supporting this proposal is based on epidemiological studies, where contradictory results have been found in some populations2. Very few studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of intestinal parasites on skin immunology, so the role of this component of the exposome in the pathophysiology of AD is still poorly understood3.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most important immunoglobulin in the mucosal system4. The secretory component of IgA (SIgA) has been identified as a protective factor in some inflammatory diseases5. The changes and the effect that intestinal parasites and other components of the exposome may have on SIgA levels in AD have not been studied.

The objective of this study is to explore the impact of parasites and other components of the exposome on SIgA levels in patients with AD stratified by severity. This will be achieved through an extensive and in-depth analysis of key exposome components that may impact immunoglobulin levels and parasites. Subsequently, direct parasitological diagnosis will be performed on stool samples, and serum SIgA quantification will be measured using ELISA. Statistical analyses will be conducted to identify exposome variables associated with potential changes in SIgA, while taking disease severity into account.

1. Okada H, Kuhn C, Feillet H, Bach JF. The ‘hygiene hypothesis’ for autoimmune and allergic diseases: an update. Clin Exp Immunol. 2010;160(1):1-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04139.x
2. Briggs N, Weatherhead J, Sastry KJ, Hotez PJ. The Hygiene Hypothesis and Its Inconvenient Truths about Helminth Infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10(9):e0004944. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004944
3. Flohr C, Quinnell RJ, Britton J. Do helminth parasites protect against atopy and allergic disease? Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 2009;39(1):20-32. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03134.x
4. Cerutti A, Rescigno M. The Biology of Intestinal Immunoglobulin A Responses. Immunity. 2008;28(6):740-750. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2008.05.001
5. Mantis NJ, Rol N, Corthésy B. Secretory IgA’s complex roles in immunity and mucosal homeostasis in the gut. Mucosal Immunol. 2011;4(6):603-611. doi:10.1038/mi.2011.41