Metabolomic Analysis of Skin Biopsies from Patients with Atopic Dermatitis Reveals Hallmarks of Inflammation, Disrupted Barrier Function and Oxidative Stress

The main objectives of this study were to characterize the metabolomic profile of lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis, and to compare it with non-lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis and skin of controls with no dermatological disease. Skinpunch biopsies were collected from 15 patients and 17 controls. Targeted analysis of 188 metabolites was conducted. A total of 77 metabolites and their ratios were found, which differed significantly between lesional skin of atopic dermatitis, non-lesional skin of atopic dermatitis and skin of controls. The metabolites were members of the following classes: amino acids, biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, sphingomyelins or phosphatidylcholines, and the most significant differences between the groups compared were in the concentrations of putrescine, SM.C26.0 and SM.C26.1. The alterations in metabolite levels indicate inflammation, impaired barrier function, and susceptibility to oxidative stress in atopic skin.