title: Aspartame Attenuates 2, 4-Dinitrofluorobenzene-Induced Atopic Dermatitis-Like Clinical Symptoms in NC/Nga Mice.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common multifactorial chronic skin disease that has a multiple and complex pathogenesis. AD is gradually increasing in prevalence globally. In NC/Nga mice, repetitive applications of 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) evoke AD-like clinical symptoms similar to human AD. Aspartame (N-L-α-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester) is a methyl ester of a dipeptide, which is used as an artificial non-nutritive sweetener. Aspartame has analgesic and anti-inflammatory functions that are similar to the function of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin. We investigated whether aspartame can relieve AD-like clinical symptoms induced by DNFB treatment in NC/Nga mice. Sucrose did not relieve AD-like symptoms, whereas aspartame at doses of 0.5 μg kg(-1) and 0.5 mg kg(-1) inhibited ear swelling and relieved AD-like clinical symptoms. Aspartame inhibited infiltration of inflammatory cells including eosinophils, mast cells, and CD4(+) T cells, and suppressed the expression of cytokines including IL-4 and IFN-γ, and total serum IgE levels. Aspartame may have therapeutic value in the treatment of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gun-Dong
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Seek
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Je
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: pcs@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Cheung-Seog
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001218:Aspartame / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D044950:Flavanones; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D044950:Flavanones; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; C005273:naringenin; D001218:Aspartame