Inhibition of thymic stromal lymphopoietin production to improve pruritus and quality of life in infants and children with atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory pruritic chronic dermatosis involving the alarmin thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which is directly implicated in AD pruritus.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of Tambourissa trichophylla leaf extract (TTLE) titrated in polyphenols and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) in vitro and in vivo for AD pruritus.

Patients/methods: Initially, in vitro assessment of TSLP production in keratinocytes was undertaken. In normal human keratinocytes in vitro, TSLP was induced by polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly:IC), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-4 and then quantified by ELISA in supernatants. Some cells were pretreated with TTLE and/or GA. Thereafter, an in vivo clinical study was performed including 48 infants and children with mild to severe AD flare-ups, some of which were treated with topical corticosteroids. A topical spray containing TTLE and GA was applied. After 21 days of topical spray application, pruritus, sleeplessness, the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, the Infant's Dermatitis Quality of Life index (IDQOL), and the Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFIQ) were assessed.

Results: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin secretion was inhibited significantly in an AD environment by TTLE and GA by up to 57.2% and 73.3%, respectively. The use of the topical spray induced a significant reduction in pruritus and sleeplessness scores, as well as the SCORAD, IDQOL, and DFIQ indexes in the total group. Similar results were observed in patient subgroups with or without topical corticosteroid treatment.

Conclusions: A topical spray containing TTLE and GA, which inhibit TSLP secretion, efficiently decreases AD pruritus and improves the quality of life of AD patients.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; emollient; pruritus; quality of life; thymic stromal lymphopoietin.