Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the LK5 Herbal Complex on LPS- and IL-4/IL-13-Stimulated HaCaT Cells and a DNCB-Induced Animal Model of Atopic Dermatitis in BALB/c Mice

• Published in: Pharmaceutics Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 40
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun-Jeong, Kim, So-Yeon, Bae, Ho Jung, Choi, Yu-Yeong, An, Ju-Yeon, Cho, Ye Eun, Cho, So-Young, Lee, Su-Jung, Lee, Sanghyun, Sin, MinSub, Yun, Young Min, Lee, Jong Ryul, Park, Se Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.12.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Advertising executives; Analysis; anti-inflammation; Anti-inflammatory drugs; Antibodies; Atopic dermatitis; B cells; Cell culture; Cytokines; Dermatitis; Drug therapy; Health aspects; Immunoglobulin E; itching; Kinases; LK5 herbal complex; Medicine, Botanic; Medicine, Herbal; Proteins; signal transducers and activators of transcription; Skin; Tofacitinib; South Korea; United States > US; signal transducers and activators of transcription; atopic dermatitis; anti-inflammation; LK5 herbal complex; itching
• ISSN: 1999-4923; 1999-4923
• DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010040

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The activation of the JAK-STAT pathway increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13, further deteriorating AD. Therefore, for the treatment of AD, the JAK-STAT pathway is emerging as a significant target, alongside inflammatory cytokines. This study investigates the potential therapeutic effects of a novel herbal complex, LK5, composed of , , , , and , known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. We examined the anti-inflammatory and anti-AD effects of the LK5 herbal complex in HaCaT cells stimulated by LPS and IL-4/IL-13, as well as in a mouse model of AD induced by DNCB. In HaCaT cells stimulated with LPS or IL-4/IL-13, the LK5 herbal complex demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and downregulating the phosphorylation of STAT proteins. In a murine AD-like model induced by DNCB, administration of the LK5 herbal complex significantly ameliorated clinical symptoms, including dermatitis, ear thickness, and TEWL. Histological analysis revealed a reduction in epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration. The LK5 herbal complex also inhibited pruritus induced by compound 48/80. Furthermore, the LK5 herbal complex treatment significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TSLP, IL-6, and IgE in plasma and ear tissue of AD-induced mice. These findings suggest that the LK5 herbal complex may modulate the immune response and alleviate AD symptoms by inhibiting STAT pathways.