Polynucleotides Enhance Skin Barrier Function and Reduce Inflammation in a 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene-Induced Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis
Ye Jin Ha
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorKa Hee Tak
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorJong Lyul Lee
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorChan Wook Kim
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorIk Jun Moon
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Yong Sik Yoon
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorYe Jin Ha
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorKa Hee Tak
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorJong Lyul Lee
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorChan Wook Kim
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorIk Jun Moon
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Yong Sik Yoon
Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorABSTRACT
Background
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatological disorder characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, dry skin, pruritus, and aberrant immune responses to external stimuli. Although polynucleotides (PNs) have anti-inflammatory properties, their effect on AD remains unexplored.
Materials and Methods
This study investigated the effects of PNs on a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model. The effects were evaluated by the dermatitis severity score (DSS), the spleen index, the serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), histological findings, and the expression levels of cytokine mRNA and filaggrin protein in skin tissue.
Results
Topical application of PNs significantly reduced the DSS, the spleen index, the serum IgE concentration, and TEWL compared with the control. Additionally, histopathological analysis showed that PNs reduced epidermal and dermal thickness, the mast cell count, collagen deposition, and eosinophil infiltration in the dermis. Moreover, PNs significantly downregulated the expression of key inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-25, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), in affected skin tissue. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and Western blot revealed that PNs inhibited DNCB-induced suppression of filaggrin. A combination of hyaluronic acid (HA) and PNs showed enhanced efficacy compared with PNs alone, particularly for reducing the serum IgE concentration and TEWL and increasing filaggrin expression.
Conclusion
These results suggest that PNs are potential candidates to treat AD because they possess anti-inflammatory properties and improve skin barrier function.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open Research
Data Availability Statement
No data are availible for this study as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current research.
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