title: Inhibitory effect of cucurbitacin B on imiquimod-induced skin inflammation.
abstract: Psoriasis is a common skin disease, of which pathogenesis involves the increase of inflammatory reaction in epidermal cells. In an attempt to find therapeutics for psoriasis, we found that cucurbitacin B has an inhibitory potential on imiquimod-induced inflammation of keratinocytes. Cucurbitacin B significantly inhibited imiquimod-induced expression of crucial psoriatic cytokines, such as IL-8 and CCL20, via down-regulation of NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathway in human keratinocytes. In addition, keratinocyte proliferation was markedly inhibited by cucurbitacin B. The potential beneficial effect of cucurbitacin B on psoriasis was further validated in imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis of experimental animal. Topical application of cucurbitacin B resulted in significant reduction of epidermal hyperplasia and inflammatory cytokines production, and ameliorated the psoriatic symptom. Taken together, these results suggest that cucurbitacin B may be a potential candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Zheng Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Kyoung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seul Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Deok
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; Skin Med Company, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jhoon@cnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jeung-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D017931:DNA Primers; D014315:Triterpenes; C041246:cucurbitacin B; D000077271:Imiquimod
keywords: Cucurbitacin B; Imiquimod; Keratinocytes; NF-κB; STAT3