EGCG identified as an autophagy inducer for rosacea therapy

Unveiling the Mechanism of Liangxue Siwu Decoction in Treating Rosacea Through Network Pharmacology and in-vitro Experimental Validation

Background

Rosacea, a recurring dermatological disorder, demands effective therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine, particularly Liangxue Siwu Decoction (LXSWD), has shown promise in managing inflammatory skin diseases, such as rosacea. This study focuses on uncovering LXSWD's specific effects on the inflammatory symptoms of rosacea.

Objective

Our research investigates LXSWD's therapeutic effectiveness in rosacea treatment and delves into its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Network pharmacology was utilized to identify LXSWD's key components and their targets in rosacea management, which were then validated by molecular docking. An in vivo rosacea-like model in LL-37-induced mice was developed, subdividing them into control, model, and LXSWD groups. The LXSWD group received oral administration (25.0 g/kg/day) for six days before model induction. Post-treatment evaluations included skin tissue analyses to verify our network pharmacology predictions.

Results

Key active ingredients in LXSWD, such as quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin, were identified alongside central target proteins like TNF and MMPs. Our molecular docking study confirmed the interactions between these ingredients and targets. Analyses through GO and KEGG pathways indicated LXSWD's role in mitigating inflammation, particularly influencing the TNF and IL-17 pathways. LXSWD treatment in vivo markedly alleviated LL-37-induced symptoms in mice, showing a marked reduction in inflammatory cytokines (p < 0.05) and modulation of crucial genes (p < 0.05). These results, supported by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot, underline the modulatory effects of LXSWD on MMPs, offering significant protection against rosacea's inflammation alterations (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments, this study elucidates LXSWD's potential mechanisms in rosacea treatment. It offers a novel theoretical framework for its clinical use in managing rosacea.

Rosacea pathogenesis and therapeutics: current treatments and a look at future targets

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with a significant health and economic burden from costs and loss of productivity due to seeking medical treatment. The disease encompasses multiple phenotypic manifestations involving a complex and multi-variate pathogenesis. Although the pathophysiology of rosacea is not completely understood, ongoing research is continually elucidating its mechanisms. In this review, current concepts of rosacea pathogenesis will be addressed which involve skin barrier and permeability dysfunction, the innate and adaptive immune systems, and the neurovascular system. More specifically, the cathelicidin pathway, transient potential receptor channels, mast cells, and the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway are various targets of current pharmacologic regimens. Future therapies may seek different mechanisms to act on current treatment targets, like the potential use of JAK/STAT inhibitors in ameliorating skin barrier dysfunction or TLR antagonists in alleviating cathelicidin mediated inflammation. Other potential treatments aim for entirely different molecular targets such as microvesicle particle mediated local and systemic inflammation. Ultimately rosacea is associated with a significant health and economic burden which warrants deeper research into its pathogenesis and resultant new treatment discovery.