Development of a new eczema-like reconstructed skin equivalent for testing child atopic dermatitis-relieving cosmetics.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, and it has serious effects on children's and families' quality of life. We aimed to screen and evaluate the efficacy of different formulas on relieving of atopic dermatitis clinical symptoms by developing an eczema-like reconstructed human skin equivalent in vitro. Some research has reported that thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AD. We developed an eczema-like in vitro skin equivalent by coculturing the cocktails polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid sodium salt (poly(I:C)) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The eczema-like skin equivalent was characterized by overexpression of TSLP and impaired skin barrier function. Three cosmetic formulas with the potential of anti-inflammation and skin barrier promotion were topically applied onto the eczema-like skin equivalent, mimicking in vivo application. The inhibitory effect on TSLP was examined by ELISA. Effects on tissue viability and skin barrier function were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. The results show that eczema-like skin equivalent induced by cocktails of poly(I:C) and LPS can mimic the skin characters of the atopic dermatitis. The cocktails can induce high TSLP expression, impaired cell viability, and skin barrier function. The cosmetic formulas with the potential of anti-inflammation and skin barrier promotion were evaluated to be helpful to decrease and relieve the impact of AD with the decreased TSLP and the higher tissue viability than the eczema-like skin equivalent without any cosmetic application. The eczema-like skin equivalent can be used to screen and evaluate formulas on AD relieving.