ABSTRACT
Recent studies have highlighted the potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) as an alternative treatment for Alopecia Areata (AA) due to their immunosuppressive properties. While MSCs have shown promise in cell experiments, their effectiveness in vivo remains uncertain. This study aims to validate local administration of MSC therapy's efficacy in AA treatment through animal experiments. AA was induced through Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) administration in mice, and MSC treatment (MSCT)'s effects were assessed visually and through tissue analysis. The MSC-treated group showed more hair regrowth compared to the control (CTL) group. MSCT notably reduced local inflammatory cytokines (JAK1, JAK2, STAT1, STAT3, IFN-γR, IL-1ß, IL-16, IL-17α, and IL-18) in AA-induced mice's skin, but systemic cytokine levels remained unchanged. Furthermore, MSC treatment normalized the expression of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway genes (LEF1 and ß-catenin) and growth factors (FGF7 and FGF2), which are crucial for hair cycle regulation. This study lays the groundwork for further exploring MSCs as a potential treatment for AA, but more research is needed to fully understand their therapeutic potential.
Subject(s)
Alopecia Areata , Cytokines , Disease Models, Animal , Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Animals , Alopecia Areata/therapy , Alopecia Areata/metabolism , Mice , Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology , Cytokines/metabolism , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/genetics , Female , Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1/metabolism , Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine (CS) is a first-line immunosuppressive agent used to manage moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). To date, the risk of developing hypertension associated with the long-term use of low-dose CS in AD patients is understudied. OBJECTIVE: To determine the cumulative dose-dependent effect of CS on the risk of developing hypertension in patients with AD. METHODS: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort with 1,844,009 AD patients was built from the Korean National Health Insurance System database from 2005 to 2009. A Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis was performed according to patients' CS treatment history adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Current use of CS was associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.442; 95% confidence interval, 3.761-5.247). Among the current CS users, a higher cumulative dose of CS (≥39,725 mg) or longer cumulative use of CS (≥182 days), was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CS-associated hypertension is very low when using low-dose treatment regimens for AD. However, the current use or a high cumulative dose of CS for treating patients with AD increases the risk of developing hypertension. Precaution is needed when prescribing CS for long-term treatment of AD.
ABSTRACT
Several studies have reported the pathogenic role of Malassezia in atopic dermatitis (AD); the significance of Malassezia's influence on AD needs to be further investigated. Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody to anti-Interleukin (IL) 4Rα, and ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK)1/2 inhibitor, are the first approved biologics and inhibitors widely used for AD treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate how Malassezia Restricta (M. restricta) affects the skin barrier and inflammation in AD and interacts with the AD therapeutic agents ruxolitinib and anti-IL4Rα. To induce an in vitro AD model, a reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) was treated with IL-4 and IL-13. M. restricta was inoculated on the surface of RHE, and anti-IL4Rα or ruxolitinib was supplemented to model treated AD lesions. Histological and molecular analyses were performed. Skin barrier and ceramide-related molecules were downregulated by M. restricta and reverted by anti-IL4Rα and ruxolitinib. Antimicrobial peptides, VEGF, Th2-related, and JAK/STAT pathway molecules were upregulated by M. restricta and suppressed by anti-IL4Rα and ruxolitinib. These findings show that M. restricta aggravated skin barrier function and Th2 inflammation and decreased the efficacy of anti-IL4Rα and ruxolitinib.