Methotrexate reduces epidermal hyperplasia and alters cutaneous IL-31 and IL-31RA expression in AD

Key clinical point: Methotrexate treatment decreased epidermal hyperplasia and altered the cutaneous expression of pruritus-related inflammatory cytokines and receptors, including interleukin-31 (IL-31) and IL-31 alpha receptor subunits (RA), in adults with moderate-to-severe refractory atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: At 24 weeks of treatment, methotrexate led to a significant increase in IL-31RA expression in the epidermis (P = .016), decrease in IL-31 gene expression in lesional skin (P = .019), and reduction in the mean epidermal thickness (P = .021).

Study details: Findings are from a prospective cohort study including 12 adults with moderate-to-severe refractory AD who orally received 15 mg methotrexate per week and were matched with 10 control individuals without AD.

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Disclosures: This study was supported by Fundo de Apoio à Dermatologia de São Paulo, Brazil. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Samorano LP et al. Methotrexate for refractory adult atopic dermatitis leads to alterations in cutaneous IL-31 and IL-31RA expression. An Bras Dermatol. 2023 (Sep 18). doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.01.002