최미라 (한국기초과학지원연구원, UST)

장경순 (한국기초과학지원연구원)

최미라 (한국기초과학지원연구원, UST)

신정우 (분당 차병원)

장경순 (한국기초과학지원연구원)

This study aimed to elucidate metabolic differences in stratum corneum (SC) samples collected from lesional (LS) and non-lesional (NLS) skins of 23 atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, as well as from the normal skin (Normal) of 20 healthy controls. Methanolic extracts of SC samples were analyzed using a hybrid trapped ion mobility Q-TOF mass spectrometer coupled with an UPLC system. Subsequent statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), revealed distinct metabolic differences among the three sample groups. Specifically, LS samples exhibited significantly elevated levels of hypoxanthine, choline, and glycerophosphocholine—metabolites associated with inflammatory processes—compared to Normal samples, while levels of natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) such as D-pyroglutamic acid and urocanic acid were significantly reduced. These metabolic alterations were also observed in NLS samples, indicating that AD may be diagnosed not only through clinical symptoms but also via molecular changes in the skin. These results enhance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying atopic dermatitis and may facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the condition.