Diversity of atopic dermatitis and selection of immune targets

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a heterogeneous immune-mediated skin disorder affecting people of all ages and ethnicities. Despite the development of targeted therapeutics such as biologics and Janus kinase inhibitors, attaining complete clinical efficacy remains difficult. This therapeutic challenge may be attributed to the complex pathogenesis of AD. Although the TH2 axis has been extensively studied, recent advancements have started to reveal the involvement of additional immune pathways including TH1, TH17, and TH22. Understanding the interplay of these immune axes may contribute to a more personalized therapeutic approach based on patients’ molecular profile, with the prospect of improving clinical outcome. This review will discuss studies exploring the molecular profile of AD in both skin and blood across age, ethnicity/race, disease chronicity, IgE levels, filaggrin mutation status, and AD association with other atopic conditions. Moreover, it will explore the potential of personalized treatment strategies based on a patient's distinct immune signature.