Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a high prevalence in children worldwide. Resveratrol exerts various pharmacologic effects, and application of resveratrol has been suggested as an alternative treatment for microorganism infection and skin pathologies.
Objective: The present study examines the effect of resveratrol on AD using an in vivo murine model.
Materials and methods: Atopic dermatitis was induced in 30 BALB/c mice by topical application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) prior to treatment with 0 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, or 25 mg/kg resveratrol. Histologic data changes were evaluated, and the levels of thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine; type 2 helper T cytokines interleukin (IL) 4, IL-5, and IL-13; and type 1 helper T cytokines IL-12 and interferon γ were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Messenger ribonucleic acid expression was evaluated with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Filaggrin (FLG), envoplakin (EVPL), transglutaminase (TG), and kallikrein 7 (KLK7) protein expression were evaluated with Western blot.
Results: Resveratrol ameliorated the onset of AD-like skin lesions and significantly improved the DNCB-induced dermal destruction in mice. In addition, resveratrol reduced the levels of the above chemokines, downregulated the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine KLK7, and upregulated the expression of several cytokines, such as EVPL, FLG, and TG.
Conclusions: These results suggest resveratrol has therapeutic effects in the treatment of AD.