• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1343-1354
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• 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin disorder that causes chronic itch. We investigated the inhibitory effects of a mixture of prebiotic short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS), inulin, or β-glucan on AD development in 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-treated NC/Nga mice. Mice were randomly assigned to six groups: untreated mice, AD control, positive control (DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of Zyrtec), and DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of prebiotics such as scGOS/lcFOS (T1), inulin (T2), or β-glucan (T3). The prebiotic treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) showed suppression of AD symptoms, Th2 cell differentiation, and AD-like skin lesions induced by DNCB. In addition, prebiotic treatment also reduced the number of microorganisms such as Firmicutes, which is associated with AD symptoms, and increased the levels of Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with alleviation of AD symptoms. Our findings demonstrate the inhibitory effects of prebiotics on AD development by improving the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and beneficial symbiotic microorganisms in in vitro and in vivo models.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.134-143
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• 2017

Background: The prevalence of allergic inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and allergic rhinitis worldwide has increased and complete recovery is difficult. Korean Red Ginseng, which is the heat-processed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, is widely and frequently used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. In this study, we investigated whether Korean Red Ginseng water extract (RGE) regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines via the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway in allergic inflammation. Methods: Compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)-induced AD-like skin lesion mice models were used to investigate the antiallergic effects of RGE. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human mast cells (HMC-1) were also used to clarify the effects of RGE on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Results: Anaphylactic shock and DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions were attenuated by RGE administration through reduction of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in mouse models. RGE also reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines including $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8, and expression of chemokines such as IL-8, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in HaCaT cells. Additionally, RGE decreased the release of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as expressions of chemokines including macro-phage inflammatory protein $(MIP)-1{\alpha}$, $MIP-1{\beta}$, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and IL-8 in HMC-1 cells. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that these inhibitory effects occurred through blockage of the MAPK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway. Conclusion: RGE may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases such as AD-like dermatitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1039-1049
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• 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by immune dysregulation. Meanwhile, the supernatant of lactic acid bacteria (SL) was recently reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, HaCaT keratinocytes stimulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) are widely used for studying AD-like responses. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of SL from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced HaCaT keratinocytes, and then we investigated the strains' probiotic properties. SL was noncytotoxic and regulated chemokines (macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)) and cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-25, and IL-33) in TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced HaCaT keratinocytes. SL from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MG4644, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MG4693, and Lactococcus lactis MG5474 decreased the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Furthermore, the safety of the three strains was demonstrated via hemolysis, bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, and toxicity tests, and the stability was confirmed under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Therefore, L. rhamnosus MG4644, L. paracasei MG4693, and Lc. lactis MG5474 have potential applications in functional food as they are stable and safe for intestinal epithelial cells and could improve atopic inflammation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.538-543
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• 2012

We evaluated the expression of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD83 and major histocompatibility (MHC) class II induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. In contrast to the previously reported effect of DNFB on dendritic cells, CD86 expression did not change. Furthermore, we observed that the CD83 expression level transiently increased and then decreased. Induction of CD80 and MHC class II molecule expression and a decrease in CD83 expression by DNFB in vitro were also confirmed in splenocytes of BALB/c and NC/Nga mice. However, DNFB did not influence CD83 expression in peritoneal $CD11b^+$ cells from BALB/c or NC/Nga mice. Detailed in vivo experiments and further studies on the possible contribution of $CD11b^+$ cells to induce atopic dermatitis (AD) would be helpful to attain a better understanding of AD pathogenesis.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

Poria cocos has been traditionally used for the treatment of edema, scanty urine, dizziness due to retention of fluid, reduced appetite due to asthenia of spleen, loose stool, diarrhea, distraction, sudden palpitation and insomnia in East Asia. The aim of this study was to confirm whether Poria cocos wonfire whethe(PCWE) and Poria cocos ointment (PCO) have a preventive e of ter Pthe development of afire wdethe(PCWE (AD) in 2,4-Diniwhochlorobenzene (oria)-applied Balb/ wme e. Oral administration (12.5wmg/kg, 25wmg/kg) of PCWE and fire al application (O.5wmg/mouse, 1.0mg/mouse) of PCO decreased the development of AD-like skin lesions, ear swelling, spleen weight, total serum IgE. PCWE and PCO significantly also inhibited the infiltration of mast cells in the dorsal skin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1017-1024
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• 2007

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL-17), produced by keratinocytes, is a CC chemokine known to selectively Th2 type T cells via $CCR4^+$ and is implicated in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). TARC/CCL17 expression was induced by cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$). We recently found that the wogonin, a flavone isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis, suppressed TARC expression via heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) in human keratinocytes induced with mite antigen. However, little is known about the inhibitory mechanism of wogonin on TARC/CCL-17 expression stimulated with cytokines. To investigate the inhibitory mechanism, I determined the inhibitory effects of wogonin on the activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation, and also examined the activation of p38 MAP kainase in HaCaT keratinocytes stimulated with TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$. Wogonin inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA complex, NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity, and the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ in a dose dependent manner. Wogonin also inhibited the translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus. Moreover, the phosphorylation of of p38 MAP kinase in the TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes were suppressed by wogonin in a dose dependent manner. These results suggest that wogonin may inhibit cytokine-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation via suppression of p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway in keratinocytes and modulation of wogonin signaling pathway may be beneficial for the treatment of AD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.74-85
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• 2018

Objectives: HTD treatment is a traditional preventive therapy for neonatal inflammatory diseases such as AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of HTD treatments for the maintenance and formation of lipid barrier in Dermatophagoides farina-induced obese NC/Nga mice. Methods: 20 mg/kg of CRGR extracts as HTD treatments were orally administered to NC/Nga mice. To induce obesity, high fat diet was served. Dermatophagoides farina extracts was applied on the 4th-6th and 8th-10th weeks to induce AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. Changes of skin conditions in mice were observed by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Results: The results showed that HTD treatments effectively maintained and formed the lipid barrier. In the experimental groups, restorations of Lass2 expression and distributions of filaggrin, involucrin, loricrin, ASM, and LXR means that HTD treatments maintained and generated the lipid barrier. In the dermal papillae, HTD treatments reduced PKC production accompanied by epidermis damage. Furthermore, levels of IL-4, and STAT6 was low. HTD treatment may be effective for preventing inflammation induced by Th2-skewed condition by suppressing the main pathway of Th2 differentiation. Conclusions: HTD treatment alleviated the inflammatory damage in the skin tissues of the NC/Nga mice by maintaining the lipid barrier and suppressing Th2 differentiation.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated whether Korean mistletoe (Viscum album L. var. coloratum) has anti-inflammatory effects that play key roles in the regulation of pathological mechanism of atopic dermatitis (AD). Four kinds of fractions, hexane (HX), ethyl acetate (EA), butanol (BU), and methylene chloride (MC), were used and RAW264.7 mouse macrophages and RBL-2H3 rat basophils were used to measure various inflammatory markers. EA significantly decreased mRNA expression and protein secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-4 but HX did not affect these markers. In addition, BU decreased mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-6 whereas MC decreased IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expressions. As a result, Korean mistletoe can show anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the secretion of cytokines related to AD, so it is thought that it will be possible to develop functional cosmetics related to this.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2008

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease that often has asthma and allergic rhinitis. Magnesium salts, the important component of minerals in Dead Sea water, are known to exhibit beneficial effects in inflammatory disease. Favorable effects of magnesium ions and sea water treated to the skin of patients with contact dermatitis have been reported. But histological and immunological investigations are insufficient. This study was performed to examine the inhibitory effect of magnesium-rich sea mineral water on the development of AD-like skin lesions in hairless mice. AD-like skin lesions are induced by the repeated application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Local application of magnesium-rich sea mineral water on hairless mice skin applied with DNCB inhibited the development of AD-like skin lesions as exemplified by a significant increase in skin hydration (p<0.01), and a decrease in epidermal water loss (p<0.01). Serum IgE level was also significantly decreased (p<0.01). These results suggest that magnesium-rich sea mineral water inhibits the development of DNCB-induced AD-like skin lesions in hairless mice. These observations indicate that magnesium-rich sea mineral water may be alternative and assistant substances for the management of AD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.478-483
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• 2019

The use of fermented soy curd as a functional substance has been actively studied due to the anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activity of soybean protein hydrolyzate by enzymes of lactic acid bacteria. The present study investigated the potential of soy curd as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD). Pediococcus inopinatus Y2 (P. inopinatus Y2) lactic acid bacteria were inoculated into soy milk and fermented ($30^{\circ}C$, 24 hr). Changes in body weights, ear thicknesses, IgE concentrations, and weights of immune organs in ICR female mice were quantified. Moderate weight gain occurred in most of the groups. The ear thickness was lowest in the untreated group (no group), and it was allergic and thickened in the phthalic anhydride (PA) treatment group. Based on visual observations, as compared with the skin condition of the PA-induced AD group, the skin condition of the animals in the fermented soy curd (FSC) group was improved. Therefore, FSC by lactic acid bacteria seemed to improve AD. Based on the comparison of the weights of the spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, as well as the results of the IgE analysis, soy milk, in addition to FSC, had a therapeutic effect. However, the antiallergy effects of FSC in terms of AD were far superior to those of soy milk. These results indicated that FSC can be used as a treatment for AD.