Abstract
BackgroundDysfunction of central and skin Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis play important roles in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Our previous studies showed that several Chinese herbs could improve HPA axis function. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of BuShenYiQi granule (BSYQ), a Chinese herbs formula, in AD mice and explored the effective mechanism from regulation of HPA axis.MethodsThe ovalbumin (OVA) induced AD mice model were established and treated with BSYQ. We evaluated dermatitis score and histology analysis of dorsal skin lesions, meanwhile, serum corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA. The changes of CRH/proopiomelanocortin(POMC) axis elements, corresponding functional receptors and crucial genes of glucocorticosteroidogenesis in the skin were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively.ResultsThe symptoms and pathological changes in skin of AD mice were significantly improved and several markers of inflammation and allergy descended obviously after BSYQ treatment. We found that AD mice had insufficient central HPA tone, but these conditions were markedly improved after BSYQ treatment. The AD mice also showed a disturbed expression of skin HPA. In lesion skin of AD mice, the mRNA and protein expressions of CRH decreased significantly, on the contrary, POMC and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) increased markedly, meanwhile, NR3C1 (mouse GR), CRHR2 and 11-hydroxylase type 1(CYP11B1) were reduced locally. Most of these tested indexes were improved after BSYQ treatment.ConclusionsAD mice displayed the differential expression pattern of central and skin HPA axis and BSYQ treatment significantly alleviated the symptoms of AD mice and presented anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects via regulating the expression of central and skin HPA axis.
Highlights
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes significant impairment in quality of life
We evaluated dermatitis score and histology analysis of dorsal skin lesions, serum corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA
We found that AD mice had insufficient central HPA tone, but these conditions were markedly improved after BuShenYiQi granule (BSYQ) treatment
Summary
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes significant impairment in quality of life. Systemic and local infections activate the HPA axis and POMC, POMC-derived peptides (ACTH, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and β-endorphin) and cortisol or corticosterone are released. It has been reported that all regulatory elements of the central HPA axis were expressed in mammalian skin, including proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides[10], CRH and related peptides as well as the corresponding functional receptors, MC2R(the classical adrenocortical ACTH receptor) and glucocorticoid receptor NR3C1[11,12,13]. The peripheral HPA axis elements play important roles in the maintaining of skin local homeostasis [10]. Inflammatory stimulation of AD may activivate the skin HPA axis elements; the expression sequence of peptides includes urocortin/CRH!POMC!ACTH. Dysfunction of central and skin Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis play important roles in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). We evaluated the antiinflammatory effects of BuShenYiQi granule (BSYQ), a Chinese herbs formula, in AD mice and explored the effective mechanism from regulation of HPA axis.
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