7,8,4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone attenuates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in NC/Nga mice

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 29;9(8):e104938. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104938. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by chronic highly pruritic and relapsing inflammatory skin lesions. Despite its growing prevalence, therapeutic treatments remain limited. Natural immune modulators from herbal extracts or derivatives may be useful for treating AD symptoms. This study examined the effect of 7,8,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (7,8,4'-THIF), a metabolite of soy isoflavone daidzin, on AD-like symptoms. Repeated epicutaneous application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was performed on the ear and dorsal skin of NC/Nga mice to induce AD-like symptoms and skin lesions, and 7,8,4'-THIF (200 and 400 nmol) or tacrolimus (100 µg) was applied topically for 3 weeks to assess their anti-pruritic effects. We found that 7,8,4'-THIF alleviated DNCB-induced AD-like symptoms as quantified by skin lesion, dermatitis score, ear thickness, and scratching behavior. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that 7,8,4'-THIF decreased DNCB-induced eosinophil and mast cell infiltration into skin lesions. We also found that 7,8,4'-THIF significantly alleviated DNCB-induced loss of water through the epidermal layer. In addition to reducing the DNCB-induced increase in serum IgE, 7,8,4'-THIF also lowered skin lesion levels of the chemokine thymus and activation regulated chemokine; Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13; and Th1 cytokines IL-12 and interferon-γ. These results suggest that 7,8,4'-THIF might be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / chemically induced*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / pathology
  • Dinitrochlorobenzene*
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Isoflavones / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / pathology*

Substances

  • 7,8,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Dinitrochlorobenzene
  • Isoflavones
  • Immunoglobulin E

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ009542), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. This work was supported by the National Leap Research Program (2010-0029233), National Research Foundation, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Republic of Korea. This work was also supported by the R&D program-Establishment of Infra Structure for Anti-aging Industry Support (N0000697), Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy/Korea Institute for the Advancement of Technology, Republic of Korea. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.