Effects of Pimecrolimus Cream 1% on the Molecular and Cellular Profile of Adult Male Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria for patients with atopic dermatitis: * Outpatient at screening * Adult male \>20 years old * Diagnosis of AD fulfilling the Hannifin and Rajka criteria * Mild to moderate AD (Investigator Global Assessment \[IGA\] 2-3; localized eczema area and severity index \[EASI\] 1-8) * AD affecting both arms and/or legs \>10cm2 per target area * Willing to undergo 4 mm serial punch biopsies * Patient history of AD for at least 3 years Inclusion criteria for healthy volunteers: * Volunteers must be males \>20 years of age * Volunteers must be in good health, as determined by past medical history, physical examination, and vital signs Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria for patients with atopic dermatitis: * Concurrent diseases/conditions and history of other diseases/conditions * Are immunocompromised or have a history of malignant disease * Have a history of rheumatic fever, heart valve replacement, prosthetic joints or other prosthetic constituents * Have concurrent skin disease (e.g. acne) of such severity in the study area that it could interfere with the study evaluation * Have previously reported poor or no clinical response to topical tacrolimus ointment (Protopic®) or pimecrolimus cream (Elidel®) * Have active skin infections * Present with clinical conditions other than atopic dermatitis that can interfere with the study treatment * Present with severe medical condition(s) that, in the opinion of the investigator, prohibits participation in the study * Are maintained on emollients that contain supplementary ingredients such as urea, alpha or beta-hydroxy acids, fruit acids, vitamins A, D or E * Have received phototherapy (e.g. UVA, UVB) or systemic therapy (e.g. immunosuppressants, cytostatics) known or suspected to have an effect on AD within 4 weeks of Visit 1 (screening) * Have received systemic corticosteroids (\[CS\] e.g. oral, intravenous, intraarticular, rectal) within 4 weeks of Visit 1 (screening). Patients on a stable maintenance dose of inhaled or intranasal CS may participate * Were treated with topical therapy, including topical calcineurin inhibitors (e.g. corticosteroids, tar) known or suspected to have an effect on AD during the current acute episode * Were treated with antihistamines within 7 days of Visit 1 * Known serious adverse reactions or hypersensitivity to anesthetics such as lidocaine or mepivacaine * Excluded investigational drugs/hypersensitivity * Have received investigational drugs within 8 weeks of the first application of study drug or planned use of other investigational drugs during participation in this study * Have known hypersensitivity to any ingredient of the pimecrolimus cream 1% or this class of study drug Exclusion criteria for healthy volunteers: * Erythrodermic patients, patients with Netherton's syndrome * Personal or family history of atopy (asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis) * Clinically significant findings during the physical examination * Have a history of rheumatic fever, heart valve replacement, prosthetic joints or other prosthetic constituents e.g. lens implants or hip joints * Volunteers with known serious adverse reactions or hypersensitivity to anesthetics such as lidocaine or mepivacaine * Participation in any clinical trial within one month prior to current trial * History of immunocompromise * History of positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis C test result * Use of corticosteroids within 4 weeks prior to baseline * Were treated with antihistamines within 7 days of Visit 1 * Phototherapy within 4 weeks prior to baseline * Topical therapy within 5 weeks prior to the study * Treatment with nephrotoxic drugs within 2 weeks prior to baseline (aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, colchicine)