D3.370 - Inverse Association between Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Atopic Dermatitis in Schoolchildren

Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) serves as a biomarker of mitochondrial function and cellular health, and has been linked to several inflammatory diseases. Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder, but the relationship between mtDNA-CN and atopic dermatitis remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between mtDNA-CN and atopic dermatitis in a population of Asian schoolchildren.

A total of 1,342 singleton children (760 boys, 56.6%; mean age ± standard deviation: 6.45 ± 0.41 years) participating in the Longitudinal Investigation of Global Health in Taiwanese Schoolchildren (LIGHTS) cohort were included in this study. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells, and mtDNA-CN was measured using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between mtDNA-CN and atopic dermatitis, after adjusting for covariates including age, sex, body mass index, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, and parental allergic diseases.

Among 1,342 children, 331 (24.7%) children had physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis. Children with atopic dermatitis had significantly lower mtDNA-CN (289.61 ± 102.05) compared to controls (299.46 ± 91.89) (p <0.0001). Higher mtDNA-CN was significantly associated with a reduced risk of atopic dermatitis (adjusted odds ratio: 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.55 to 0.97), after adjusting for relevant covariates.

This study provides novel evidence of an inverse association between mtDNA-CN and atopic dermatitis in schoolchildren, suggesting that mtDNA-CN may contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Further research is needed to validate mtDNA-CN as a potential biomarker for atopic dermatitis.