A novel transdermal plasmid-dimethylsulfoxide delivery technique for treatment of psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with various immunologic abnormalities. Repeated subcutaneous injection of interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been established as an effective treatment to counteract psoriasis.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether gene therapy using IL-4 expression plasmid (pIL-4) via transdermal delivery was an alternative treatment for psoriasis. In our experiment, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was used as a penetration enhancer.


METHODS
At first, the penetration efficiency of the complex of reporter plasmid accompanied by DMSO was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Then, the antipsoriasis efficiency of the treatment with pIL-4-DMSO was tested in mice.


RESULTS
The expression of the reporter gene was detected in epidermis and dermis both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, the psoriasis symptoms were relieved, and significant reductions in some psoriasis-associated factors were observed after pIL-4-DMSO treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the topical application of pIL-4-DMSO can treat psoriasis to a significant extent.
Zhang
Yan
Y
State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Li
Jiong
J
Liu
Chang-Yong
CY
Zhou
Xi-Kun
XK
Qiu
Ji
J
Zhang
Yin-Bing
YB
Huang
Nong-Yu
NY
Li
You
Y
Chen
Xiang-Jun
XJ
Li
Xiao-Lei
XL
Wang
Yong-Sheng
YS
Yang
Han-Suo
HS
Chen
Xian-Cheng
XC
Kan
Bing
B
Mao
Yong-Qiu
YQ
Deng
Hong-Xin
HX
Yang
Li
L
Wen
Yan-Jun
YJ
Zhao
Xia
X
Wei
Yu-Quan
YQ
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010957:Plasmids; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic / Q000379:methods*
D015847:Interleukin-4; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide