Molecular allergology studies processes of IgE-associated allergy, diagnoses and even predicts the development of allergic symptoms, and treats and prevents IgE-associated allergies using pure, mostly recombinant and structurally characterized allergen molecules and allergen-derived epitopes. Atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, is virtually invariably linked with IgE allergy sensitization. However, non-IgE-mediated pathomechanisms appear to be active in atopic dermatitis, and identifying the disease-causing allergens is sometimes challenging. The study discusses current work demonstrating the use of molecular allergology in studying atopic dermatitis processes, diagnosing, and eventually treating and preventing atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis has been linked to IgE sensitivity to airborne, food-derived, microbial allergens, and auto allergens. Evidence for the presence of IgE- and non-IgE-mediated mechanisms of inflammation in atopic dermatitis may be presented using specified allergen molecules and non-IgE-reactive allergen derivatives. Furthermore, the effects of allergen administration via the skin on systemic allergen-specific immune responses have been investigated. Multi-allergen tests with micro-arrayed allergen molecules have been shown to be useful in identifying culprit allergens in atopic dermatitis and may improve atopic dermatitis management through allergen-specific immunotherapy, allergen avoidance, and IgE-targeting therapies in a personalized medicine approach.
Molecular allergology allows for the dissection of the pathomechanisms of atopic dermatitis, new forms of allergy diagnosis for the identification of disease-causing allergens, and new forms of management through allergen-specific and T cell-targeting or IgE-targeting interventions in a personalized medicine approach.
