Tape strips detect molecular alterations and cutaneous biomarkers in skin of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Kristina Navrazhina, Yael Renert-Yuval, Saakshi Khattri, Hassan Hamade, Marguerite Meariman, Elizabeth Andrews, Madeline Kim, Monali NandyMazumdar, Digpal S. Gour, Swaroop Bose, Samuel C. Williams, Sandra Garcet, Joel Correa da Rosa, Alice B. Gottlieb, James G. Krueger, Emma Guttman-Yassky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has a high unmet need for better treatments. Biopsies are considered the gold standard for studying molecular alterations in skin. A reproducible, minimally invasive approach is needed for longitudinal monitoring in trials and in pediatric populations. Objective: To determine whether skin tape strips can detect molecular alterations in HS and identify biomarkers of disease activity. Methods: We performed RNA sequencing on tape strips collected from lesional and healthy-appearing (nonlesional) HS skin (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 21). We correlated the expression of skin biomarkers between tape strips and a previously published gene-signature of HS biopsies. Results: Tape strips detected upregulation of known HS biomarkers (eg, Interleukin[IL]-17A) in nonlesional and/or lesional skin and also identified novel clinically actionable targets, including OX40 and JAK3. The expression of Th17 and tumor necrosis factor-α pathways were highly correlated between tape strips and biopsies. HS clinical severity was significantly associated with expression of biomarkers (eg tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-17 A/F, OX40, JAK1-3, IL-4R) in HS lesional and/or nonlesional skin. Limitations: Sample size. Tape stripping is limited in depth. Conclusion: This study validates tape strips as a minimally-invasive approach to identify cutaneous biomarkers in HS. This provides a novel avenue for monitoring treatment efficacy and a potential step toward individualized therapy in HS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)749-758
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume90
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2024

Keywords

  • IL-17
  • RNA-sequencing
  • TNF
  • biomarkers
  • hidradenitis suppurativa
  • inflammation
  • tape strips
  • transcriptome

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