Filaggrin–Atopy Update

Filaggrin, a filament-associated protein that binds to keratin fibers in epithelial cells, acts in the stratum corneum to build a dense matrix of cytoskeleton fibrils, which, with other structures, forms a functional barrier at the skin surface. Functioning properly, this barrier tends to keep the outside out and the inside in, limiting water loss and preventing entry of chemicals and infectious agents into the viable epidermis beneath it (see JW Dermatol Jul 30 2009). Mutations in the gene governing filaggrin production can affect this function. In fact, many patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have mutations in the filaggrin gene and “leaky skin,” with increased epidermal water loss and susceptibility to irritation. These authors conduct…