Zhongchao Han

By Leisheng Zhang, Xiaonan Yang, Zhihai Han, Zhongchao Han, Tiankang Guo, Xiaowei Gao and Hui Cai

Longitudinal studies have indicated the multifaceted regimens for atopic dermatitis (AD) administration, including ultraviolet phototherapy, oral JAK inhibitors, and the concomitant adjunctive therapies according to the American Academy of Dermatology published Guidelines of Care for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis. As a disease with typical characteristics of relapsing pruritus and chronic inflammation, AD has caused heavy burden on children and adults, as well as healthcare providers and family members. As a multi-factorial disease, AD has been considered primarily derived by Th2 dysfunction, with clinical and molecular heterogeneity. The current therapeutic regimens are various and largely due to the diversity in the wide spectrum of the clinical phenotypes based on epidermal barrier disruption, genetic predisposition, and dysregulation of patients’ immune system. Meanwhile there’s an urgent need for developing safer and long-term agents to efficiently control moderate to severe AD. In this book chapter, we mainly summarized the fundamental concept, clinical manifestation, pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of AD, and in particular, the biofunction and modulation of natural killer (NK) cells for AD. Collectively, the contents in this chapter will help further understand the landscape of this disease and the rationale behind new emerging therapies.

Part of the book: Latest Breakthroughs in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis