Filaggrin deficiency confers a paracellular barrier abnormality that reduces inflammatory thresholds to irritants and haptens

TC Scharschmidt, MQ Man, Y Hatano… - Journal of Allergy and …, 2009 - Elsevier
BACKGROUND: Mutations in the human filaggrin gene (FLG) are associated with atopic
dermatitis (AD) and are presumed to provoke a barrier abnormality. Yet additional acquired
stressors might be necessary because the same mutations can result in a noninflammatory
disorder, ichthyosis vulgaris. OBJECTIVE: We examined here whether FLG deficiency alone
suffices to produce a barrier abnormality, the basis for the putative abnormality, and its
proinflammatory consequences. METHODS: By using the flaky-tail mouse, which lacks …