Kang YM, Kim HM, Lee M, An HJ. Effects of Echinocystic Acid on Atopic Dermatitis and Allergic Inflammation of the Skin and Lungs.
PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022;
104:154211. [PMID:
35717808 DOI:
10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154211]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Echinocystic acid (ECA), a pentacyclic triterpene enriched in various herbs, promotes anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity; however, its therapeutic effects on atopic dermatitis (AD) or atopic march and the underlying mechanisms of action have not yet been fully elucidated.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to elucidate the effects and molecular mechanisms of ECA on AD and allergic inflammation.
METHODS
We evaluated the inhibitory effects of ECA using a house dust mite (HDM)-induced AD mouse model and human keratinocytes.
RESULTS
The results revealed that ECA improved AD symptoms by decreasing epidermal/dermal thickness, immune cell infiltration, and restoring skin barrier function, as well as an imbalanced immune response. In addition, repeated epicutaneous HDM challenges aggravated allergic inflammation in mice lungs, which was caused by the infiltration of immune cells and collagen deposition, whereas ECA alleviated these symptoms. Moreover, ECA suppressed the expression of T helper cell-derived cytokines, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 in the skin and lungs of mice with HDM-induced AD, as well as inhibited the translocation of nuclear factor-κB in HaCaT keratinocytes.
CONCLUSION
This is the meaningful study to demonstrate that ECA improves allergic inflammation of the skin and lungs through recovery of the skin barrier, regulation of immune balance, and alleviation of lung inflammation, suggesting that ECA has therapeutic potential as an antiatopic and antiallergic agent that blocks the progression of AD to atopic march.
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