The Combination of Low-Temperature Plasma and Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F on Ameliorating Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasiform Dermatitis in Mice

Song Zhang,Dawei Liu,Hongxiang Chen,Baihan Chen

doi:10.3390/app12010356

Abstract

Improving the transdermal delivery efficiency of medicine is a crucial measure to improve the treatment efficiency of psoriasis. This paper developed a low-cost, highly active, and large-action-area low-temperature plasma (LTP) jet array. The two components of plasma—the high concentration of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and the strong electric field—easily changed the structural integrity of the stratum corneum, which enhanced the transdermal delivery of the medicine. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) is a medicine used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The enhanced transdermal delivery of TwHF significantly alleviated the severed psoriasiform dermatitis induced by the imiquimod. Unlike the TwHF treatment alone, the LTP + TwHF treatment was more efficient at suppressing epidermal thickening and inhibiting systemic inflammation without noticeable side effects. LTP + TwHF treatment provides a potential new solution for psoriasis treatment.

Highlights

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease associated with high prevalence, disfigurement, and comorbid diseases [1,2,3,4,5]
The length of the plasma plume of the low-temperature plasma (LTP) jet array with the working gas of argon alone was about 2 cm, and it decreased to 1.7 cm and 0.9 cm for the working gas with an O2 percentage of 0.1% and 1%, respectively
This study developed a safe, low-cost, and effective LTP jet array for skin disease treatment

Summary

Introduction

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease associated with high prevalence, disfigurement, and comorbid diseases [1,2,3,4,5]. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) has significant anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects [15]. It has successfully treated various clinical immune abnormalities and has achieved fairly reliable curative results [16]. TwHF has a specific cytotoxic effect and can control abnormal cell proliferation in psoriasis [17]. Unlike TwHF treatment alone, the LTP + TwHF treatment showed even lower cumulative scores, epidermal thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and inflammatory cytokines released in the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse model. The LTP + TwHF treatment efficiently reduced the enlargement of the spleen [18,19]

IMQ-Induced Psoriatic-Like Mouse Model

LTP Jet Array System

Characteristics of LTP Jet Array

Conclusions