RESUMO
Spirulina, an herbal supplement and popular ingredient in health foods, is a potent stimulant of the immune system. Spirulina use is temporally associated with the onset or exacerbation of Dermatomyositis (DM), an autoimmune connective tissue disease that frequently affects the skin and muscle. In this study, we investigated the effect of Spirulina on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in DM and Healthy Controls (HCs), showing that Spirulina stimulates Interferon ß (IFNß), Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and Interferon γ (IFNγ) production of DM PBMCs primarily via Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) activation using ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and flow cytometry. We show that classical monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells are stimulated by Spirulina and are activated via TLR4. Skin from patients with Spirulina-associated DM exhibits an inflammatory milieu similar to that of idiopathic DM but with a stronger correlation of TLR4 and IFNγ.
RESUMO
Skin maladies affect populations worldwide and can have a vast range of clinical manifestations, signs, and complications, including infection, pain, or even stigma for sufferers due to their visibility. Both modern health infrastructure and indigenous systems offer solutions for patients. This contribution provides an overview of the dermatologic uses for Thanatka, a plant that is used topically in Myanmar to treat a myriad of skin diseases. Indigenous to Myanmar, the trees used to produce Thanatka are also present in India, Sri Lanka, Java, and Pakistan.