Allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic asthma are multifactor diseases, and the pathogenic mechanism is not fully understood yet. The environmental factor is one of the major contributors for allergy development, and several reports demonstrated that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are an exacerbating factors for allergy. In this study, we aim to examine the efficacy of elimination of VOCs by chemical filter in development of atopic dermatitis using a mice model.

A mouse model of hapten-induced AD were exposed to normal air and chemical filtered air (CF) with VOCs removed. There was a significant decrease in trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) 8 days after induction compared to the control group, but thereafter there was no change in the control group. Significant reductions in T and B cell counts by flow cytometry and pathology were observed in the CF group. The pathology of the control and CF groups became comparable in TEWL, skin thickness, and immune-related factors as the days passed. In study, the fact that significant effects were observed after the onset of the symptoms suggests that chemicals may be involved where they cause symptoms, furthermore, the impact of VOCs removal in the early stages of disease onset is currently under investigation.