Key Differences Found in RNA Sequencing of Tape Strips and Skin Biopsies in Atopic Dermatitis

According to a study published in Allergy, tape strips and biopsies both showcased advantages for measuring gene expression changes in atopic dermatitis (AD).

Researchers compared the performance of skin tape strips and biopsies in investigating AD, considering factors such as RNA yield, mapping efficiency, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). RNA sequencing was conducted on paired tape strips and biopsies from lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with AD and healthy controls.

Results revealed that tape strips yielded lower RNA amounts and exhibited reduced mapping efficiency compared to biopsies. While the gene expression profiles of paired samples demonstrated moderate correlation, systematic differences were observed in the expression levels of numerous genes between tape strips and biopsies across both AD and nonAD samples.

Tape strips were found to preferentially detect genes associated with itch, immune response, and epidermal dendritic cells, whereas biopsies showed preference for certain cytokines, skin-barrier genes, and dermal fibroblast markers. Tape strips identified a significantly higher number of DEGs between AD and nonAD samples compared to biopsies, indicating their potential for capturing broader gene expression changes.

Furthermore, tape strips exhibited higher levels of bacterial mRNA compared to biopsies. The study concluded that both methods have respective advantages for studying gene expression changes in AD, with tape strips offering a noninvasive option but sampling less tissue, while biopsies provide more tissue but are invasive and may cause scarring. The choice between tape strips and biopsies should be based on the specific skin layers and genes of interest in the investigation of AD.

Reference
Fritz B, Halling AS, Cort ID, et al. RNA-sequencing of paired tape-strips and skin biopsies in atopic dermatitis reveals key differences. Allergy. Published online March 13, 2024. doi:10.1111/all.16086