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Silva-Abreu M, Sosa L, Espinoza LC, Fábrega MJ, Rodríguez-Lagunas MJ, Mallandrich M, Calpena AC, Garduño-Ramírez ML, Rincón M. Efficacy of Apremilast Gels in Mouse Model of Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis Skin Inflammation. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2403. [PMID: 37896163 PMCID: PMC10610068 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Apremilast (APM) is a novel drug for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. APM is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, raising intracellular cAMP levels and thereby decreasing the inflammatory response by modulating the expression of TNF-α, IL-17, IL-23, and other inflammatory cytokines. The goal of this study is to develop APM gels as a new pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of topical psoriasis. APM was solubilized in Transcutol-P and incorporated into Pluronic F127, Sepigel, and carbomer bases at different proportions. All formulations were characterized physiochemically. A biopharmaceutical study (release profile) was performed, and ex vivo permeation was evaluated using a human skin model. A toxicity assay was carried out on the HaCaT cell line. A mouse model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis skin inflammation was carried out to determine its efficacy by histological analysis, RNA extraction, and RT-qPCR assays. APM gel formulations showed good physicochemical characteristics and a sustained release profile. There was no permeation of any gel measured through human skin, indicating a high retained amount of APM on the skin. Cell viability was greater than 80% at most dilution concentrations. APM gels treated the psoriasis mouse model, and it shows a reduction in the proinflammatory cytokines (IL-8, IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23). APM gels could be a new approach for the treatment of topical psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelle Silva-Abreu
- Departament de Farmàcia, Tecnologia Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.E.); (M.R.)
| | - Lilian Sosa
- Research Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras;
- Microbiology Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras
| | - Lupe Carolina Espinoza
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.E.); (M.R.)
- Departamento de Química y Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 1101608, Ecuador
| | - María-José Fábrega
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona, University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08005 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - María J. Rodríguez-Lagunas
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Mallandrich
- Departament de Farmàcia, Tecnologia Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.E.); (M.R.)
| | - Ana Cristina Calpena
- Departament de Farmàcia, Tecnologia Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.E.); (M.R.)
| | - María Luisa Garduño-Ramírez
- Center for Chemical Research, Institute for Research Basic and Applied Sciences, Autonomous University of the State of Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico;
| | - María Rincón
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.C.E.); (M.R.)
- Departament de Ciència de Materials i Química Física, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), C. Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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