Hataedock treatment has preventive therapeutic effects for atopic dermatitis through skin barrier protection in Dermatophagoides farinae-induced NC/Nga mice

Publication date: Available online 3 June 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Author(s): Sang-hyun Ahn, Ho-Yeol Cha, Jin-Hong Cheon, Sun-Young Park, Kibong Kim
Ethnopharmacological relevanceHataedock treatment is traditionally used for the purpose of preventing the future skin disease by feeding herbal extracts to the newborn in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine.Aim of the studyThis study investigated the preventive therapeutic effects of Hataedock (HTD) treatment for atopic dermatitis through skin barrier protection in Dermatophagoides farinae-induced NC/Nga mice.Materials and methodsTo the HTD treatment group, the extract of Coptis japonica Makino and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer was administered orally to the 3-week-old mice before inducing AD. After that, Dermatophagoides farinae was applied except the control group to induce AD-like skin lesions. We confirmed the effects of HTD on morphological changes, protection of skin barrier, regulation of Th2 differentiation, inflammation regulation and induction of apoptosis through histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL assay.ResultsHTD effectively reduced edema, angiogenesis and skin lesion. HTD also increased the levels of LXR and filaggrin but decreased the level of PKC (p < 0.01). The levels of IL-4, IL-13, STAT-6 and CD40 were significantly reduced in the HTD treated group (p < 0.01). HTD also suppressed the mast cell degranulation and the level of FcɛRI, substance P, MMP-9 and 5-HT (p < 0.01). The levels of inflammatory factors such as NF-κB p65, p-IκB and iNOS were also decreased (p < 0.01). Apoptosis of inflammatory cells was also found to increase (p < 0.01).ConclusionOur results indicate that HTD effectively regulate the Th2 differentiation, mast cell activation and various inflammatory responses on AD-induced mice through protection of skin barrier. Therefore, HTD may have potential applications for alternative and preventive treatment in the management of AD.

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