Drugs For Atopic Dermatitis Research Articles

Effect of Tacrolimus Hydrate (FK506) Ointment on Spontaneous Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice

The effect of tacrolimus hydrate (FK506) ointment on spontaneous dermatitis in NC/Nga (NC) mice was examined. FK506 ointment (0.1-1%) suppressed the development of dermatitis and was also therapeutically effective against established dermatitis. Increases in CD4-positive T cells (helper T cells), mast cells, eosinophils and immunostaining of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IgE were confirmed in the skin of the NC mice, and FK506 ointment suppressed all of these changes. Increased plasma IgE was also confirmed in the NC mice, and treatment with FK506 ointment reduced the plasma IgE level. These results suggested that FK506 suppressed the dermatitis by inhibiting the activation of inflammatory cells and by blocking the cytokine network in the skin of the NC mice. The commercially available steroid ointments showed only marginal effect on the development of dermatitis and showed some signs of side effects such as alopecia or atrophy of the skin. The effect of the steroids might have been masked by these side effects because the steroids showed similar inhibitory effects on the skin histopathological changes and the increase of plasma IgE. From these results, FK506 ointment can be expected to be a useful drug for atopic dermatitis.

Treatment of atopic dermatitis with cortisone.

Soon after corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisone became available for clinical investigation, it was noted that they were effective against a wide variety of dermatoses,1including the atopic diathesis.2Initial reports of the use of these drugs in atopic dermatitis were enthusiastic and, in general, created the hope that the therapeutic solution of this perplexing problem was at hand. However, as clinical experience accumulated, it was noted that the pattern of response in atopic dermatitis3is similar to that observed in rheumatoid arthritis,4lupus erythematosus,5and certain other diseases,6in that it is characterized by marked initial improvement, followed by a relapse when therapy is discontinued. The present study was initiated for the purpose of determining the therapeutic value of cortisone in a group of patients with atopic dermatitis, when given for a prolonged period of time and under conditions permitting detailed observation. In order