Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiome

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widely recognized chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by dietary habits, stress, genetic factors, and environmental factors. This study aimed to explore the impact of stress on AD exacerbation, as well as the associated changes in the gut microbiota. We utilized...

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Main Authors: So Min Lee, Keun Hyang Eom, Jeeyoun Jung, Jun-Chul Kang, Jae-Sang Ryu, You Mee Ahn, Ji-Yeun Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Stress
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10253890.2025.2525801
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author So Min Lee
Keun Hyang Eom
Jeeyoun Jung
Jun-Chul Kang
Jae-Sang Ryu
You Mee Ahn
Ji-Yeun Park
author_facet So Min Lee
Keun Hyang Eom
Jeeyoun Jung
Jun-Chul Kang
Jae-Sang Ryu
You Mee Ahn
Ji-Yeun Park
author_sort So Min Lee
collection DOAJ
description Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widely recognized chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by dietary habits, stress, genetic factors, and environmental factors. This study aimed to explore the impact of stress on AD exacerbation, as well as the associated changes in the gut microbiota. We utilized a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS). The animals were divided into four groups: normal, sham control (sham), AD, and AD+CRS. Scratching behavior was significantly increased in the AD+CRS group compared to the AD group on day 28, indicating that stress exacerbates pruritus in AD. Relative abundance analysis of the gut microbiota at the phylum level revealed an increased relative abundance of Bacteroidota in both the AD and AD+CRS groups. Principal coordinate analysis revealed distinct patterns between the AD and AD+CRS groups. The relative abundance of Heminiphilus was negatively correlated with immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, while the relative abundance of Ruminococcus exhibited significant and negative correlations with both corticosterone and IgE levels. Alistipes, which is known to aggravate AD, was notably elevated in the AD+CRS group. These findings confirm that stress-related changes in the gut microbiota composition may contribute to the exacerbation of AD, highlighting the connection among stress, immune response, and microbiome dynamics in AD progression.
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spelling doaj-art-fd56f71f8e0741369eb86aba97f528682025-08-20T03:28:52ZengTaylor & Francis GroupStress1025-38901607-88882025-12-0128110.1080/10253890.2025.2525801Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiomeSo Min Lee0Keun Hyang Eom1Jeeyoun Jung2Jun-Chul Kang3Jae-Sang Ryu4You Mee Ahn5Ji-Yeun Park6KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCollege of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaKM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCollege of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCollege of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaKM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCollege of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a widely recognized chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by dietary habits, stress, genetic factors, and environmental factors. This study aimed to explore the impact of stress on AD exacerbation, as well as the associated changes in the gut microbiota. We utilized a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS). The animals were divided into four groups: normal, sham control (sham), AD, and AD+CRS. Scratching behavior was significantly increased in the AD+CRS group compared to the AD group on day 28, indicating that stress exacerbates pruritus in AD. Relative abundance analysis of the gut microbiota at the phylum level revealed an increased relative abundance of Bacteroidota in both the AD and AD+CRS groups. Principal coordinate analysis revealed distinct patterns between the AD and AD+CRS groups. The relative abundance of Heminiphilus was negatively correlated with immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, while the relative abundance of Ruminococcus exhibited significant and negative correlations with both corticosterone and IgE levels. Alistipes, which is known to aggravate AD, was notably elevated in the AD+CRS group. These findings confirm that stress-related changes in the gut microbiota composition may contribute to the exacerbation of AD, highlighting the connection among stress, immune response, and microbiome dynamics in AD progression.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10253890.2025.2525801Atopic dermatitischronic restraint stressEASImast cellepidermis thicknessmicrobiome
spellingShingle So Min Lee
Keun Hyang Eom
Jeeyoun Jung
Jun-Chul Kang
Jae-Sang Ryu
You Mee Ahn
Ji-Yeun Park
Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiome
Stress
Atopic dermatitis
chronic restraint stress
EASI
mast cell
epidermis thickness
microbiome
title Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiome
title_full Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiome
title_fullStr Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiome
title_full_unstemmed Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiome
title_short Stress exacerbates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice: association with modulation of the gut microbiome
title_sort stress exacerbates dncb induced atopic dermatitis in balb c mice association with modulation of the gut microbiome
topic Atopic dermatitis
chronic restraint stress
EASI
mast cell
epidermis thickness
microbiome
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10253890.2025.2525801
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