Dermatophagoides farinae Extract Induces Interleukin 33-Mediated Atopic Skin Inflammation via Activation of RIP1.

Receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIP) family 1 signaling has complex effects on inflammatory processes and cell death, but little is known concerning allergic skin diseases. We examined the role of RIP1 in Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DFE)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin inflammation. RIP1 phosphorylation was increased in HKCs treated with DFE. Nectostatin-1, a selective and potent allosteric inhibitor of RIP1, inhibited AD-like skin inflammation and the expression of histamine, total IgE, DFE-specific IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in an AD-like mouse model. The expression of RIP1 was increased in ear skin tissue from a DFE-induced mouse model with AD-like skin lesions and in the lesional skin of AD patients with high house dust mite sensitization. The expression of IL-33 was down-regulated after RIP1 inhibition, and the levels of IL-33 were increased by over-expression of RIP1 in keratinocytes stimulated with DFE. Nectostatin-1 reduced IL-33 expression in vitro and in the DFE-induced mouse model. These results suggest that RIP1 can be one of the mediators that regulate IL-33-mediated atopic skin inflammation by house dust mites.

Toxicological assessments of an ethanol extract complex of Descurainia sophia and Peucedanum praeruptorum: Subacute oral toxicity and genotoxicity studies.

An ethanol extract complex of Descurainia sophia seeds and Peucedanum praeruptorum roots, called BP10A, has antitumor potential against colorectal cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the 28-day oral toxicity and the genotoxicity of BP10A. The subacute toxicity test was done through oral administration to mice. ICR mice (n = 10) received daily oral BP10A doses of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days. During administration, general clinical signs, food consumption, organ weights, and hematologic, biochemical and histopathological parameters in male and female mice were assessed. No significant adverse effects up to the highest dose (2000 mg/kg) were found. The genotoxicity was evaluated using a battery of tests, including an in vitro bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test, an in vivo micronucleus test using bone marrow cells in ICR mice and a chromosomal aberration test using CHL/IU cells. BP10A did not show any genotoxic signs in the Ames (up to 5000 µg/plate), micronucleus (up to 5000 mg/kg) and the chromosomal aberration tests (550-1750 µg/mL). Therefore, BP10A was considered safe based on the subacute toxicity and genotoxicity results, indicating that it is a useful pharmaceutical material with no adverse toxicity.

The Clinical Profile of Patients with Psoriasis in Korea: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study (EPI-PSODE).

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory disease affecting multiple aspects of patients' lives. Its epidemiology varies regionally; however, nationwide epidemiologic data on psoriasis depicting profile of Korean patients has not been available to date. OBJECTIVE: To understand nationwide epidemiologic characteristics and clinical features of adult patients with psoriasis visited university hospitals in Korea. METHODS: This multicenter, non-interventional, cross-sectional study recruited 1,278 adult patients with psoriasis across 25 centers in Korea in 2013. Various clinical data including PASI, BSA, DLQI, SF-36 and PASE were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1,260 patients completed the study (male:female=1.47:1). The mean age was 47.0 years with a distribution mostly in the 50s (24.9%). Early onset (<40 years) of psoriasis accounted for 53.9% of patients. The mean disease duration was 109.2 months; mean body mass index was 23.9 kg/m2; and 12.7% of patients had a family history of psoriasis. Plaque and guttate types of psoriasis accounted for 85.8% and 8.4%, respectively. Patients with PASI ≥10 accounted for 24.9%; patients with body surface area ≥10 were 45.9%. Patients with DLQI ≥6 accounted for 78.8%. Between PASI <10 and PASI ≥10 groups, significant difference was noted in age at diagnosis, disease duration, blood pressure, waist circumference of female, and treatment experiences with phototherapy, systemic agents, and biologics. CONCLUSION: This was the first nationwide epidemiologic study of patients with psoriasis in Korea and provides an overview of the epidemiologic characteristics and clinical profiles of this patient population.

Efficacy of a Complex of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Glycyl-Histidyl-Lysine Peptide on Hair Growth.

BACKGROUND: Pattern hair loss is a very common problem. Although effective therapeutics for the treatment of pattern hair loss have been used, novel therapeutic modalities are still required to enhance hair growth. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy and safety of a complex (ALAVAX) of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK) peptide for the treatment of pattern hair loss. METHODS: Forty-five patients with male pattern hair loss were treated with ALAVAX 100 mg/ml (group A), ALAVAX 50 mg/ml (group B) or placebo (group C) once a day for 6 months. Total hair count, hair length, hair thickness, patient's assessment and adverse events were evaluated at month 1, 3, and 6. RESULTS: An increase in hair count for 6 months was 52.6 (p<0.05) in group A, 71.5 (p<0.05) in group B, and 9.6 in group C. The ratio of changes in hair count between group B (2.38) and group C (1.21) at 6 months showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The proportion above good satisfaction was higher in group A (26.7%) than in the other groups (group B: 14.3%, group C: 7.1%). There was no statistically significant difference in hair length and hair thickness among 3 groups at 6 months. There was no adverse event in 3 groups. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that a complex of 5-ALA and GHK peptide may be considered as one of the complementary agents for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.

Inflammatory Cytokine Expression and Sebum Production after Exposure of Cultured Human Sebocytes to Ultraviolet A Radiation and Light at Wavelengths of 650 nm and 830 nm.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, or infrared light therapy for the treatment of acne is the subject of ongoing scientific debate. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate changes in sebum production and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), following exposure of cultured human sebocytes to UVA radiation and light at wavelengths of 650 nm and 830 nm. METHODS: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to measure the gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α), MMPs (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9), and AMPs (psoriasin, hBD-2, hBD-3, and LL-37) in cultured sebocytes after exposure to UVA radiation (2 J/cm(2), 3 J/cm(2), and 5 J/cm(2)) and light at wavelengths of 650 nm (14 J/cm(2), 29 J/cm(2), and 87 J/cm(2)) and 830 nm (5 J/cm(2), 10 J/cm(2), and 30 J/cm(2)). Expression of inflammatory cytokine proteins and sebum production were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassays and a lipid analysis kit, respectively. RESULTS: Exposure of cultured sebocytes to UVA radiation and light at wavelengths of 650 nm and 830 nm did not show a significant increase in the expression of inflammatory cytokines, MMPs, or AMPs. Sebum production was not significantly decreased after exposure to UVA radiation and light at both wavelengths. CONCLUSION: We propose that UVA radiation, visible light, and infrared light can be used to target Propionibacterium acnes for the treatment of acne, without an increase in the expression of inflammatory biomarkers and sebum production.

Low-level light therapy for androgenetic alopecia: a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common disorder affecting men and women. Finasteride and minoxidil are well-known, effective treatment methods, but patients who exhibit a poor response to these methods have no additional adequate treatment modalities. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a low-level light therapy (LLLT) device for the treatment of AGA. METHODS: This study was designed as a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled trial. Forty subjects with AGA were enrolled and scheduled to receive treatment with a helmet-type, home-use LLLT device emitting wavelengths of 630, 650, and 660 nm or a sham device for 18 minutes daily. Investigator and subject performed phototrichogram assessment (hair density and thickness) and global assessment of hair regrowth for evaluation. RESULTS: After 24 weeks of treatment, the LLLT group showed significantly greater hair density than the sham device group. Mean hair diameter improved statistically significantly more in the LLLT group than in the sham device group. Investigator global assessment showed a significant difference between the two groups, but that of the subject did not. No serious adverse reactions were detected. CONCLUSION: LLLT could be an effective treatment for AGA.

Water extract of Aralia elata prevents cataractogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

The water extract of Aralia elata (Aralia extract) has been used in Korean traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. Here, we investigated the aldose reductase inhibitory activity, antioxidant activity and anticataract capacity of Aralia extract using various experimental systems. To determine its aldose reductase inhibitory activity and its antioxidant effect, we used rat lens homogenates. Rat lens cultures and a rat model were used to observe anticataract activity. The resulting IC50 value of Aralia extract in vitro as an aldose reductase inhibitor was 11.3 microg/ml and as an antioxidant was 25.1 microg/ml. Rat lenses in media containing 20 mM xylose developed a distinctly opaque ring in 9h, and treatment with Aralia extract at a concentration of 1mg/ml lowered lens opacity by 36.4 and 31.3% after 24 and 48 h, respectively. In vivo experiments were performed with streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The diabetic control animals developed cataracts at 11 weeks after STZ injection, while oral Aralia extract administered at 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight for 11 weeks reduced cataract formation by 15 and 12%, respectively. The present study shows that Aralia extract inhibits aldose reductase and acts in vitro as an antioxidant, and suggests that these activities have a preventive effect on cataractogenesis in xylose containing lens organ cultures and in in vivo in STZ induced diabetic rats.