RNA‐sequencing of paired tape‐strips and skin biopsies in atopic dermatitis reveals key differences

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundSkin tape‐strips and biopsies are widely used methods for investigating the skin in atopic dermatitis (AD). Biopsies are more commonly used but can cause scarring and pain, whereas tape‐strips are noninvasive but sample less tissue. The study evaluated the performance of skin tape‐strips and biopsies for studying AD.MethodsWhole‐transcriptome RNA‐sequencing was performed on paired tape‐strips and biopsies collected from lesional and non‐lesional skin from AD patients (n = 7) and non‐AD controls (n = 5). RNA yield, mapping efficiency, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for the two methods (tape‐strip/biopsy) and presence of AD (AD/non‐AD) were compared.ResultsTape‐strips demonstrated a lower RNA yield (22 vs. 4596 ng) and mapping efficiency to known genes (28% vs. 93%) than biopsies. Gene‐expression profiles of paired tape‐strips and biopsies demonstrated a medium correlation (R2 = 0.431). Tape‐strips and biopsies demonstrated systematic differences in measured expression levels of 6483 genes across both AD and non‐AD samples. Tape‐strips preferentially detected many itch (CCL3/CCL4/OSM) and immune‐response (CXCL8/IL4/IL5/IL22) genes as well as markers of epidermal dendritic cells (CD1a/CD207), while certain cytokines (IL18/IL37), skin‐barrier genes (KRT2/FLG2), and dermal fibroblasts markers (COL1A/COL3A) were preferentially detected by biopsies. Tape‐strips identified more DEGs between AD and non‐AD (3157 DEGs) then biopsies (44 DEGs). Tape‐strips also detected higher levels of bacterial mRNA than biopsies.ConclusionsThis study concludes that tape‐strips and biopsies each demonstrate respective advantages for measuring gene‐expression changes in AD. Thus, the specific skin layers and genes of interest should be considered before selecting either method.