Oral administration of SSC201, a medicinal herbal formula, suppresses atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which requires safe and effective treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effects of SSC201, a herbal formulation consisting of Stemonae Radix, Spirodelae Herba, and Cnidii Fructus, on the development of AD induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in the NC/Nga murine model. Oral administration of SSC201 significantly reduced the severity of dermatitis and the tendency of mice to scratch their lesions. SSC201 significantly reduced the thickening of the epidermis/dermis and the infiltration of T cells, eosinophils, and mast cells into the dermis. These results were supported by findings of reduced numbers of CD4(+), CCR3(+), and CD117(+)FcɛRIα(+) cells in the skin. Furthermore, SSC201 significantly decreased the number of CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD3(+)CD69(+) T cells in lymph nodes. SSC201 not only decreased the plasma levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the numbers of IgE-producing B cells (B220(+)CD23(+)), but also reduced the number of eosinophils and the levels of eotaxin as well as concentrations of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine in the periphery. Splenic levels of Th2 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, were reduced, whereas the levels of IL-12, a Th1 cytokine, were increased. Taken together, our data suggest that SSC201 may be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of AD.
1 Laboratory of Pathology, College of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon University , Daejeon, Korea.
Bo-Kyung
BK
Park
Yang-Chun
YC
Park
In Chul
IC
Jung
Seung-Hyung
SH
Kim
Jung-Eun
JE
Choi
Sunyoung
S
Park
Jeong June
JJ
Choi
Mirim
M
Jin
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007073:Immunoglobulin E