title: Gamisasangja-tang suppresses pruritus and atopic skin inflammation in the NC/Nga murine model of atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gamisasangja-tang (GST) is a traditional herbal formula prescribed for patients with intractable pruritus in association with various inflammatory skin diseases. To evaluate the effects of GST on pruritic skin inflammation and investigate its cellular and molecular mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We orally administered GST to NC/Nga (NC) mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis. Scratching frequency and the dermatitis index were evaluated, and histological examination was performed using hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue staining. The levels of interleukin (IL)-31 and T-helper cell type 2 (TH2) cytokines were determined in both the dorsal skin and cultured splenocytes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The serum levels of chemokines and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined by ELISA. Changes in the inflammatory cell population were analyzed by a hemocytometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GST significantly lowered scratching frequency and inhibited increases in dermatitis index, thickness of epidermis/dermis and infiltration of chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 3 (CCR3)(+) and cluster of differentiation (CD)117(+)/FcεRIα (Fc fragment of IgE, high affinity I, receptor for; alpha polypeptide)(+) cells in atopic skin. Both IL-31 mRNA expression and production were significantly reduced by GST, which was accomrease in the levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Further, GST treatment suppressed the secretion of eotaxin, TARC (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine), IgE, and increases in the number of basophils and eosinophils in the blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GST may have potential as an effective treatment for pruritic skin disease such as atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 300-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon 302-122, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon 300-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon 300-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong June
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Moonho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Yeou
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 300-706, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mirimj@dju.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Mirim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007378:Interleukins; C502588:interleukin-31, mouse
keywords: Atopic skin inflammation; Chlorogenic acid (PubChem CID: 1794427); Decursin (PubChem CID: 442126); Gamisasangja-tang (GST); IL-31; NC/Nga murine model; Pruritus; Torilin (PubChem CID:6450226); Vitextin (PubChem CID: 5280441)