title: Therapeutic and immunomodulatory effects of glucosamine in combination with low-dose cyclosporine a in a murine model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis.
abstract: Although cyclosporine A (CsA) is a potent immunomodulating agent and is commonly used as a systemic agent for the management of psoriasis patients, current clinical treatments are not always effective due to the clinical inefficacy of low-doses and numerous harmful effects of higher doses. Currently, the combined use of two other systemic drugs often has better therapeutic efficacy and is safer than low or high dose of a single drug. Glucosamine (Glu) also has immunomodulatory properties for autoimmune diseases. The aims of our study were to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Glu in combination with low-dose CsA on imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis in mice and to determine its immunomodulatory mechanism. We found that combined treatment with Glu (300 mg/kg) and low-dose (10 or 20mg/kg) CsA strongly ameliorated the development of psoriasis-like skin lesions and reduced the levels of Th1 cytokine (TNF-α) and Th17 cytokines (IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23) in the serum and dorsal skin. Histological findings also showed that the thickening of epidermis, stratum corneum, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Particularly, these combined treatments increased the number of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in splenic. These results suggest that use of a combination of each drug might be used as an efficacious and safe alternative therapeutic strategy, as well as may provide an immunomodulatory approach for T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis.
authors: Graduate School of Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, South Korea.
authors: Chang-Hyun
authors: CH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, 814 Siksa-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 410-773, South Korea.
authors: Ji-Young
authors: JY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, 814 Siksa-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 410-773, South Korea. Electronic address: leeay@duih.org.
authors: Ai-Young
authors: AY
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077271:Imiquimod; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005944:Glucosamine; D000077271:Imiquimod
keywords: Combination therapy; Cyclosporine A; Glucosamine; Imiquimod; Psoriasis