Atopic dermatitis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Atopic Dermatitis is a complex skin disorder characterised by chronic, inflammatory disease of the skin that starts at early childhood. The skin of patients with AD is characterized by a thinner epidermis, less mature surface corneocytes, dehydration, and an increased TEWL. The below article claims the discovery of the underlying genetic cause of atopic dermatitis.(1) In reality the referenced article in PLOS One studied the importance of Ctip2 in epidermal homeostasis and barrier function in mouse embryo.(2) The importance of the transcription factor Ctip2 in epidermal lipid metabolism has already been reported.(3) Though Ctip2 could be important in the control of many of the pathogenic mechanisms responsible for the skin changes in Atopic Dermatitis, whether we have found the genetic key for this complex disorder, the first step in the atopic march, followed by food allergy, asthma, and allergic rhinitis is still open to debate. Atopic diathesis is more likely to be multifactorial.

Here is CTIP2 on GenBank: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/protein/AAF63683.1
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(1)Researchers discover genetic basis for eczema, new avenue to therapies
(2) http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0051262
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23096701