ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the pharmacodynamic effect of gramine on 2，4-dinitrochlorobenzene （DNCB）-induced atopic dermatitis （AD） in mice and its potential mechanism. MethodThe mice were divided into the normal control group， model group， dexamethasone （0.05 g·kg-1） group， and high- and low-dose （0.12，0.06 g·kg-1） gramine groups. Mice in all groups except for the normal control group were stimulated with DNCB， followed by medication 13 d later. The changes in skin lesions were then observed， and the skin thickness， moisture content， and transepidermal water loss （TWEL） in each group were measured. The pathological changes in skin lesions were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the effects of drugs on CD4+/CD8+T-cell ratio in the spleen were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin （IL）-4， and IL-6 in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the changes in serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， and creatinine （CRE） by microplate method. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines γ-interferon（IFN-γ）， IL-13， IL-17， IL-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in skin lesions were assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the protein expression levels of nuclear transcription factor -κB (NF-κB) and NF-κB inhibitory protein α (IκBα) in skin lesions by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal control group， the model group showed skin edema， erythema， scab， scratch， and lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration， decreased skin moisture content， as well as increased skin thickness， TWEL （P<0.01）， spleen index， CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio in the spleen （P<0.05）， mRNA expression of IFN-γ， IL-13， IL-17， IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the skin lesions （P<0.05）， serum contents of IgE， IL-4， and IL-6 （P<0.05）， and protein expression of IκBα and NF-κB in skin lesions （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， dexamethasone and gramine at different doses alleviated skin erythema， scale， scab， and inflammatory cell infiltration， elevated skin moisture content， inhibited skin thickening and TWEL， and decreased spleen index， CD4+/CD8+T-cell ratio in the spleen， mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in the skin lesions， serum contents of IgE and inflammatory factors， and protein expression of IκBα and NF-κB in skin lesions， especially in the dexamethasone group and the high- dose gramine group（P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionGramine can inhibit the expression of related inflammatory factors and regulate the immune function of AD mice via the IκBα/NF-κB pathway， enabling it become a potential drug for treating AD.
ABSTRACT
Atopic dermatitis （AD） is a chronic， recurrent and inflammatory skin disease. Modern medical research suggests that AD is related to immune function， genes， skin barrier and other factors， while the specific etiology and pathogenesis remains unclear. The disease has a long course and is prone to reoccur， which seriously affects people’s production and life. Steroids， antihistamines and immunosuppressants are commonly used western medicines for the treatment of AD， which， however， will cause adverse reactions after long-term application. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has a long history， good therapeutic effect and rich clinical experience in the prevention and treatment of AD， and the research on the treatment of AD with TCM has been intensifying. Centering on the theory of TCM， we systematically summarized the research progress related to AD， discussed the etiology and pathogenesis of AD， and summarized the TCM syndrome differentiation of AD from the aspects of eight principles， etiology， Qi-blood-body fluid， zang-fu organs， six meridians， defense-Qi-nutrient-blood and triple energizer. According to the etiology and pathogenesis of AD， we proposed the therapeutic regimens corresponding to the type and stage of the disease. Considering the research progress achieved in the recent years in the prevention and treatment of AD by TCM and the modern pharmacological research on Chinese medicinal materials， we reviewed the classic famous prescriptions， self-made prescriptions and Chinese patent medicines， and expounded the mechanisms of single Chinese medicinal materials in the treatment of AD at the molecular level. The TCM external therapies such as wet compress， medicated bath， gel and ointment are safe and effective. Acupuncture and moxibustion play a role in the prevention and treatment of AD， which is worthy of promotion in clinical practice， and the syndrome differentiation methods of Qi-blood-body fluid and triple energizer are novel in the treatment of this disease. TCM， characterized by diverse therapeutic methods and good clinical efficacy， is worthy of promotion in the treatment of AD， which will contribute to the development of TCM in China.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expressions of substance P(SP)and neurokinin receptor(NK1R)in eosinophil-enriched cells from patients with atopic dermatitis(AD)so as to elucidate their possible roles in AD. Methods Blood samples were collected from healthy controls(HCs)and AD patients,and incubated with the extracts of Artemisia pollen,dust mite,and Platanus pollen for 1 h.The expressions of SP and NK1R in eosinophil-enriched cells were detected by flow cytometry.Results Level of NK1R in eosinophil-enriched cells from AD patients increased by 41% compared with that of HCs when cultured with the medium only(P= 0.001).In addition,the expression of SP in AD patients decreased by 1.17 folds(P＜0.001),and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI)of SP+eosinophils decreased by 55%(P＜0.001).However,allergens had little effect on the expressions of SP and NK1R in eosinophil-enriched cells from AD patients and HCs.Conclusion Upregulated expression of NK1R in AD indicates that eosinophil-derived NK1R may play an important role in AD.Antagonists or blockers of NK1R might be effective preparations for AD treatment.
ABSTRACT
Atopic dermatitis (AD) has become a serious epidemic in Korean children. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin C, E and other nutrients, and serum total IgE/specific IgE levels in children with AD. A total of 119 children (0-24 mo) diagnosed with AD were recruited for this cross-sectional study from a medical center in Seoul. A 24 h recall was used to assess dietary intakes. Serum total and six food-allergen specific IgE levels were measured by CAP-FEIA. Serum vitamin E was also measured but only in 25 out of the total 119 participants. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the coefficients between serum IgE levels and dietary intake as well as serum vitamin E. Serum vitamin E levels showed a significantly inverse association with serum total IgE and all specific IgE levels (P < 0.05). Fat intake was inversely related with specific-IgEs for egg whites, milk, buck wheat, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Positive associations were found between carbohydrate (CHO) intake and total IgE and specific IgEs to egg whites, milk, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Vitamin C, E and n-3/n-6 fatty acids were not related with serum total IgE and specific IgE levels except for the association between buck wheat and vitamin E. In addition, there were no significant differences between males and females in dietary intake and serum IgE levels by student's t-test. Although dietary vitamin E showed no association with serum IgE levels, serum vitamin E drew a significant inverse relationship with serum IgE levels. The evidence seems to suggest that vitamin E may possibly lower total and specific-IgEs in children with AD, and that it is important to maintain a relatively high serum vitamin E level in children with AD.
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Arachis , Ascorbic Acid , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dermatitis, Atopic , Egg White , Fatty Acids , Immunoglobulin E , Immunoglobulins , Linear Models , Milk , Soy Milk , Triticum , Vitamin E , VitaminsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been known as one of the multifactorial diseases, which has the genetic background and environmental factors at the same time. Many triggering factors such as perspiration, irritants, aeroallergens, stress, and climatologic factors have been reported to influence the development of this disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to find the triggering factors and to compare these factors among Korean adult AD patients, high risk groups of AD and normal control subjects. METHODS: During open lectures on AD to the common people, we surveyed the questionnaire of nineteen well-known triggering factors to the audience and analyzed the data according to Korean adult AD patients (121), high risk groups of AD (65) and normal control subjects (34). We classified these triggering factors as four groups, such as endogenous triggering factors, exogenous irritants, aeroallergens and others. RESULTS: AD patients had allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic asthma at the same time in decreasing order of frequency. Over 50% of AD patients had other AD patients in their families. Among endogenous triggering factors, xerosis and emotional stress were very significant (both p<0.0005) in AD patients. Of exogenous irritants, warm temperature or perspiration, scratching, wool fiber, lipid solvent, and disinfectant showed significance in AD patients. Of these exogenous irritants, especially, warm temperature or perspiration, scratching, and wool fiber were very significant (all p<0.0005) in AD patients, and at the same time warm temperature or perspiration, and wool fiber were also significant (both p<0.05) in high risk groups. In aeroallergens, house dust or dust mites, and pollen had the statistical significance in AD patients. Pollen was very significant (p<0.0005) in AD patients and also significant (p<0.05) in high risk groups. Among other factors, sun light, spicy meals or alcoholic beverages, and insect bite were significant (all p<0.05) in AD patients. CONCLUSIONS: According to the questionnaire, we identified 12 aggravating factors of AD. These were xerosis, emotional stress, warm temperature or perspiration, scratching, wool fiber, lipid solvent, disinfectant, house dust or dust mites, pollen, sun light, spicy meals or alcoholic beverages, and insect bite. Six out of these factors, e.g., xerosis, emotional stress, warm temperature or perspiration, scratching, wool fiber, and pollen were very significant in AD patients. Three out of these six factors including warm temperature or perspiration, wool fiber, and pollen were also significant in high risk groups. We could not identify any significance among dwelling areas, academic backgrounds or occupations, and AD.