Punicalagin Alleviates Psoriasis by Inhibiting NF-κB-Mediated IL-1β Transcription and Caspase-1-Regulated IL-1β Secretion

Natural products: A potential immunomodulators against inflammatory-related diseases

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory-related diseases (IRDs) are increasing worldwide. Current approved treatments for IRDs in the clinic are combat against inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Though significant development in the treatment in the IRDs has been achieved, the severe side effects and inefficiency of currently practicing treatments are endless challenge. Drug discovery from natural sources is efficacious over a resurgence and also natural products are leading than the synthetic molecules in both clinical trials and market. The use of natural products against IRDs is a conventional therapeutic approach since it is a reservoir of unique structural chemistry, accessibility and bioactivities with reduced side effects and low toxicity. In this review, we discuss the cause of IRDs, treatment of options for IRDs and the impact and adverse effects of currently practicing clinical drugs. As well, the significant role of natural products against various IRDs, the limitations in the clinical development of natural products and thus pave the way for development of natural products as immunomodulators against IRDs are also discussed.

An overview of Skp2: a promising new therapeutic target of psoriasis

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disorder affecting over 2-3% of the population worldwide, significantly impacting quality of life. Despite the availability of various therapeutic interventions, concerns persist regarding lesion recurrence and potential alterations in immune surveillance promoting cancer progression. Recent advancements in understanding cellular and molecular pathways have unveiled key factors in psoriasis etiology, including IL-17, 22, 23, TNF-α, PDE-4, JAK-STAT inhibitors, and AhR agonists. This work explores the potential of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) as a therapeutic target in psoriasis.

AREA COVERED

This review covers the current understanding of psoriasis pathophysiology, including immune dysregulation, and the role of keratinocytes and ubiquitin. It also delves into Skp2 role in cell cycle regulation, and its correlation with angiogenesis and ubiquitin in psoriasis. The evolving therapeutic approaches targeting Skp2, including small molecule inhibitors, are also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

Targeting Skp2 holds promise for developing novel therapeutic approaches for psoriasis. By modulating Skp2 activity or expression, it may be possible to intervene in inflammatory and proliferative processes underlying the disease. Further research into Skp2 inhibitors and their efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings is warranted to harness the full potential of Skp2 as a therapeutic target in psoriasis management.

Biochanin A Ameliorates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation in Mice by Modulating the NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammatory disorder characterized by the hyper-activation of the immune system and the over-proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. This study aimed to investigate the anti-psoriatic activity of Biochanin A (BCA), a phytomolecule with known anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, using the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse model. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to investigate the targetability of Biochanin A (BCA) against psoriasis. Psoriasis-like skin inflammation was established using BALB/c mice by topical application of IMQ (5%). BCA cream (0.3%, 1%, 3%) was applied on the skin regions every day for 6 days. The skin phenotypes-erythema and scaling were scored every day. On the 7th day, skin tissues were collected for gene expression analysis, histopathological analysis, cytokine levels determination, and western blot analysis for signaling mechanisms. The network pharmacology analysis has identified 57 common targets between psoriasis and BCA. The topical application of IMQ induced a typical psoriasis-like skin phenotype including redness, skin thickening, and plaque formation. Upon BCA treatment, the psoriasis-like symptoms were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner. The targets identified by the network pharmacology (MMP9, EGFR, and PTGS2) and the pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression were found to be significantly elevated in IMQ controls, and upon BCA treatment they were found significantly reduced. The release of cytokines linked to psoriasis (IL-17A and IL-23) were significantly reduced upon BCA treatment. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that BCA treatment alleviated the psoriasis-like symptoms via modulating NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of BCA against IMQ-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation.

Punica granatum L. (Pomegranate) Extracts and Their Effects on Healthy and Diseased Skin

The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the botany, phytochemistry and dermatological effects of Punica granatum (PG), with special emphasis on therapeutic mechanisms in various skin conditions. PG peel contains the highest levels of chemical compounds. Due to the high abundance of polyphenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, anthocyanins and flavonoids, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, PG peel possesses significant health-promoting effects. Up until now, different parts of PG in the form of various extracts, fixed seed oil or individual active compounds have been investigated for various effects on skin conditions in in vitro and in vivo studies, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemoprotective and antiaging effects, as well as positive effects on striae distensae, skin repair mechanisms, erythema, pigmentation and psoriasis. Therefore, formulations containing PG active compounds have been used for skincare of diseased and healthy skin. Only a few effects have been confirmed on human subjects. Based on encouraging results obtained in in vitro and animal studies about the numerous substantial dermatological effects of PG active compounds, future perspectives should incorporate more in vivo investigations in human volunteers. This approach can aid in identifying the optimal concentrations and formulations that would be most efficacious in addressing specific skin conditions.

Punicalagin improves inflammation and oxidative stress in rat model of pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the major public health concerns accounting for 30% of infertility and 50% of ectopic pregnancy cases due to severe inflammation and fibrosis. Punicalagin® are known to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Punicalagin®, against pelvic inflammatory disease in rats. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) were divided into 6 groups (n = 4) as control, PID, prophylactic (low dose and high dose) and therapeutic group (low dose and high dose). PID model was constructed by implanting the rat cervix with mixed microbe (Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus) solution. Prophylactic group was gavaged with 3 mg/kg (low dose) and 6 mg/kg (high dose) Punicalagin® daily starting one day before PID induction and therapeutic group was gavaged with 3 mg/kg (low dose) and 6 mg/kg (high dose) Punicalagin® daily starting 1 day after confirmation of PID model. Rats were sacrificed at the end of experiment and samples from upper genital tract were collected for ELISA, antioxidant assay and histopathological examination. According to results, obvious signs of inflammation and oxidative stress including infiltration of neutrophils and significantly raised levels of cytokines, and oxidative stress markers were observed in PID group when compared to control group. Punicalagin® significantly decreased the levels of IL-1β, catalase and lipid peroxidation in both prophylactic and therapeutic groups when compared to PID group. Punicalagin® also decreased the infiltration of leucocytes in uterus of prophylactic and therapeutic group when compared to PID group, as determined by histological examination. On basis of these results, we concluded that Punicalagin® showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in rat model of pelvic inflammatory disease and could be used as possible therapeutic agent in treatment of PID.

Identification and mechanistic exploration of structural and conformational dynamics of NF-kB inhibitors: rationale insights from in silico and in vitro studies

Increased expression of target genes that code for proinflammatory chemical mediators results from a series of intracellular cascades triggered by activation of dysregulated NF-κB signaling pathway. Dysfunctional NF-kB signaling amplifies and perpetuates autoimmune responses in inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis. This study aimed to identify therapeutically relevant NF-kB inhibitors and elucidate the mechanistic aspects behind NF-kB inhibition. After virtual screening and molecular docking, five hit NF-kB inhibitors opted, and their therapeutic efficacy was examined using cell-based assays in TNF-α stimulated human keratinocyte cells. To investigate the conformational changes of target protein and inhibitor-protein interaction mechanisms, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, binding free energy calculations together with principal component (PC) analysis, dynamics cross-correlation matrix analysis (DCCM), free energy landscape (FEL) analysis and quantum mechanical calculations were carried out. Among identified NF-kB inhibitors, myricetin and hesperidin significantly scavenged intracellular ROS and inhibited NF-kB activation. Analysis of the MD simulation trajectories of ligand-protein complexes revealed that myricetin and hesperidin formed energetically stabilized complexes with the target protein and were able to lock NF-kB in a closed conformation. Myricetin and hesperidin binding to the target protein significantly impacted conformational changes and internal dynamics of amino acid residues in protein domains. Tyr57, Glu60, Lys144 and Asp239 residues majorly contributed to locking the NF-kB in a closed conformation. The combinatorial approach employing in silico tools integrated with cell-based approaches substantiated the binding mechanism and NF-kB active site inhibition by the lead molecule myricetin, which can be explored as a viable antipsoriatic drug candidate associated with dysregulated NF-kB.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Oral administration of punicalagin attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriasis by reducing ROS generation and inflammation via MAPK/ERK and NF-κB signaling pathways

Psoriasis, an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease, imposes a huge mental and physical burden on patients and severely affects their quality of life. Punicalagin (PU), the most abundant ellagitannin in pomegranates, has become a research hotspot owing to its diverse biological activities. However, its effects on psoriasis remain unclear. We explored the impact and molecular mechanism of PU on M5-stimulated keratinocyte cell lines and imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in BABL/c mice using western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescent. Administration of PU-enriched pomegranate extract at dosages of 150 and 250 mg/kg/day markedly attenuated psoriatic severity, abrogated splenomegaly, and reduced IMQ-induced abnormal epidermal proliferation, CD4+ T-cell infiltration, and inflammatory factor expression. Moreover, PU could decrease expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23A, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by keratinocyte proliferation inhibition in the M5-stimulated cell line model of inflammation through inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular regulated protein kinases (MAPK/ERK) and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Our results indicate that PU may serve as a promising nutritional intervention for psoriasis by ameliorating cellular oxidative stress and inflammation.

Punicalagin alleviates the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in psoriasis through inhibiting SKP2 expression

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by abnormal keratinocytes proliferation and multiple immune cells infiltration in the dermis and epidermis. Although most psoriasis-related researches have been concentrated on the interleukin-23 (IL-23)/interleukin-17 (IL-17) axis, new data suggest that keratinocytes also play a pivotal role in psoriasis. Previously, we found that punicalagin (PUN), a bioactive ellagitannin extracted from Pericarpium Granati (the pericarpium of Punica granatum L.), exerts a therapeutic effect on psoriasis. However, the underlying mechanism, especially its potential modulatory effect on keratinocytes, remains obscure. Our study aims to reveal the potential regulatory effect and its underlying cellular mechanism of PUN on the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. We used tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-17A and interleukin-6 (IL-6) to induce abnormal proliferation of HaCaT cells (Human Keratinocytes Cells) in vitro. Then, we evaluated the effects of PUN through MTT assay, EdU staining and cell cycle detection. Finally, we explored the underlying cellular mechanisms of PUN via RNA-sequencing, WB in vitro and in vivo. Here, we found that PUN can directly and dose-dependently decrease TNF-α, IL-17A and IL-6-induced abnormal proliferation of HaCaT cells in vitro. Mechanically, PUN suppresses the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes through repressing S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) expression in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of SKP2 can partly abolish PUN-mediated inhibition of aberrantly proliferative keratinocytes. These results illustrate that PUN can reduce the severity of psoriasis through directly repressing SKP2-mediated abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes, which gives new insight into the therapeutic mechanism of PUN on psoriasis. Moreover, these findings imply that PUN might be a promising drug candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.

Role of Plant-Derived Compounds in the Molecular Pathways Related to Inflammation

Inflammation is the primary response to infection and injury. Its beneficial effect is an immediate resolution of the pathophysiological event. However, sustained production of inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen species and cytokines may cause alterations in DNA integrity and lead to malignant cell transformation and cancer. More attention has recently been paid to pyroptosis, which is an inflammatory necrosis that activates inflammasomes and the secretion of cytokines. Taking into consideration that phenolic compounds are widely available in diet and medicinal plants, their role in the prevention and support of the treatment of chronic diseases is apparent. Recently, much attention has been paid to explaining the significance of isolated compounds in the molecular pathways related to inflammation. Therefore, this review aimed to screen reports concerning the molecular mode of action assigned to phenolic compounds. The most representative compounds from the classes of flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, and phenolic glycosides were selected for this review. Our attention was focused mainly on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Literature searching was performed using Scopus, PubMed, and Medline databases. In conclusion, based on the available literature, phenolic compounds regulate NF-κB, Nrf2, and MAPK signaling, which supports their potential role in chronic inflammatory disorders, including osteoarthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular, and pulmonary disorders.

LARP7 alleviates psoriasis symptoms in mice by regulating the SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To unravel the role of La ribonucleoprotein 7 (LARP7), a transcriptional regulator, in the progression of psoriasis and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

The psoriasis-like mice model was created by daily administering of imiquimod on shaved skin. The histological analysis and skin damage were evaluated in each group. The inflammation and oxidative stress response were assessed by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic and immunoblot assays. The involvement of silent information regulator 1 (member of the Sirtuin family; SIRT1/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in LARP7-mediated psoriasis progression was also detected by immunoblot assay.

RESULTS

LARP7 relieved psoriasis symptoms in the mice model. LARP7 inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines as well as chemokines in psoriasis-like skin tissues. Additionally, LARP7 suppressed oxidative stress in the psoriasis-like skin tissues of mice. LARP7 inhibited the activation of the SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway, and therefore affected the progression of psoriasis.

CONCLUSION

LARP7 relieved psoriasis symptoms in mice by regulating the SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Pomegranate: A review of the heavenly healer's past, present, and future

In the great Persian Empire, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) had a wide reputation for use both as an herbal medicine and nutritious food. It was also a symbol of peace and love according to Achaemenid limestones in the great Persia. This paper aims to review the traditional uses of pomegranate in Persian and Islamic traditional medicine and have thorough and current information regarding the pharmacology and phytochemistry of this valuable plant for practical use and further research. Relevant information about P. granatum was collected from scientific publishers and databases including Elsevier, Wiley, PubMed, and Google Scholar between 1950 and 2022. The traditional knowledge was extracted from Persian and Islamic traditional textbooks. Based on traditional textbooks, pomegranate has beneficial effects on diseases related to gastrointestinal, upper and lower respiratory, visual, and reproductive systems. In addition, pomegranate and its preparations have been prescribed for treating metabolic disorders, skin problems, and wounds as well as dental protection. Preclinical and clinical evidence supports many therapeutic potentials of pomegranate in traditional medicine. Its therapeutic effects are mostly attributed to its polyphenols. The knowledge in Persian and Islamic traditional textbooks about pomegranate and its preparations can be used as a guide for further preclinical and mainly clinical studies to discover the therapeutic potential of this valuable plant.

Hydrolyzable Tannins in the Management of Th1, Th2 and Th17 Inflammatory-Related Diseases

Plants rich in hydrolyzable tannins were traditionally used all over the world for a variety of chronic inflammatory disorders, including arthritis, colitis, and dermatitis. However, the knowledge of their immunological targets is still limited though fundamental for their rational use in phytotherapy. The recent advances regarding the pathogenesis of inflammatory-based diseases represent an opportunity to elucidate the pharmacological mechanism of plant-derived metabolites with immunomodulatory activity. This review collects recent articles regarding the role of hydrolyzable tannins and their gut metabolites in Th1, Th2, and Th17 inflammatory responses. In line with the traditional use, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD), and asthma were the most investigated diseases. A substantial body of in vivo studies suggests that, beside innate response, hydrolyzable tannins may reduce the levels of Th-derived cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL-4, following oral administration. The mode of action is multitarget and may involve the impairment of inflammatory transcription factors (NF-κB, NFAT, STAT), enzymes (MAPKs, COX-2, iNOS), and ion channels. However, their potential impact on pathways with renewed interest for inflammation, such as JAK/STAT, or the modulation of the gut microbiota demands dedicate studies.

Augmentation of NAD+ by Dunnione Ameliorates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Dermatitis in Mice

Background

Dunnione has anti-inflammatory properties arising from its ability to alter the ratio of NAD⁺/NADH through NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) enzymatic action, followed by subsequent inhibition of NF-κB and inflammatory cytokines. Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder in which the IL-23/Th17 axis plays an important role in inflammation. However, it is unclear whether modulation of NAD⁺ levels affects psoriasis, such as skin inflammation. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of NAD⁺/NADH ratio modulation on imiquimod (IMQ)-induced, psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice.

Methods

Psoriasis-like skin inflammation was generated by daily topical application of IMQ cream. The severity of dermatitis was assessed using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and histochemistry. Expression of inflammatory cytokines was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative PCR. Acetylation of NF-κB p65 and STAT3 was determined by Western blotting.

Results

Dunnione improved IMQ-induced epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation, consistent with decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23) in skin lesions. Moreover, we found that an increase in the NAD⁺/NADH ratio by dunnione restored SIRT1 activity, thereby reduced imiquimod-induced STAT3 acetylation, which modulates the expression of psoriasis-promoting inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23.

Conclusion

Pharmacological modulation of cellular NAD⁺ levels could be a promising therapeutic approach for psoriasis-like skin disease.