Clinical Application of Juzentaihoto for Skin Diseases and its Possible Mechanism / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

We report three cases of skin disease successfully treated with juzentaihoto. Juzentaihoto has been used traditionally for deficiency of both Ki and Ketsu, and, at present, clinically for the treatment of various skin diseases. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have recently been characterized as the receptors of innate immunity, which are mainly expressed on antigen-presenting cells. We previously reported that juzentaihoto enhanced interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production through modulation of TLR4signaling pathways in murine peritoneal exudative macrophages. Since Langerhans cells, a kind of the antigen-presenting cell, are known to exist in epidermis, we speculate that juzentaihoto improves T helper1and 2 (Th 1/2) balance through modulation of TLR signaling pathways in Langerhans cells. Our cases suggest that influence to acquired immunity through the innate immune signaling is assumed to be one of the mechanisms of juzentaihoto for controlling morbid states of the skin.