These results demonstrate that deletion of Pglyrp3 or Pglyrp4 highly predisposes mice to atopic dermatitis-like lesions in response to oxazolone, and thus in WT mice Pglyrp3 or Pglyrp4 protect the skin from excessive inflammation in the oxazolone model of atopic dermatitis. The gene discussed is PGLYRP3; the disease is atopic eczema.