Increased Acetylcholine Levels in Skin Biopsies of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

    March 2003 in “ Life Sciences ”
    Ignaz Wessler, Torsten Reinheimer, H. Kilbinger, Fernando Bittinger, C. James Kirkpatrick, Joachim Saloga, Jürgen Knop
    TLDR Atopic dermatitis patients have much higher acetylcholine levels in their skin, which may cause itching.
    The study investigated the cholinergic system in the skin of healthy individuals and patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), focusing on the enzyme choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholine levels. In skin biopsies, ChAT was found in various skin cells, including keratinocytes and sweat glands. Acetylcholine levels were significantly higher in AD patients, with a 14-fold increase in the superficial skin layer compared to healthy controls. This suggested that elevated acetylcholine might contribute to AD symptoms, such as itching. The study involved 12 healthy volunteers and 7 AD patients, highlighting the potential role of non-neuronal acetylcholine in AD pathophysiology.
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