Induction of autophagy improves skin and hair conditions in dogs with underlying diseases

Yoonji Kim; Seung-Hwa Lee; Yunji Song; Sekyoo Jeong; Ha-Jung Kim

doi:10.3389/fvets.2023.1078259

Induction of autophagy improves skin and hair conditions in dogs with underlying diseases

Front Vet Sci. 2023 Jan 26:10:1078259. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1078259. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yoonji Kim^{1

2}, Seung-Hwa Lee³, Yunji Song^{1

2}, Sekyoo Jeong⁴, Ha-Jung Kim^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
² BK 21 Project Team, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
³ Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Research Team, Incospharm Corp., Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Background: Autophagy was reported to play a crucial role in maintaining general and skin health.

Methods: The study used a synthesized autophagy inducer (AI) (Aquatide™ cospharm Inc.; Daejeon, Korea), for evaluating the effects of autophagy on skin and hair in dogs. Twenty-two dogs with poor skin and hair which were diagnosed with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) or pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) were included. Clinical scores using Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index-04 (CADESI-04), Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) and skin barrier function using measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were evaluated and canine keratinocytes were also used in vitro investigation of pro-inflammatory cytokines after AI treatment.

Results: In the AI group, clinical scores and skin barrier function were improved at week 8 significantly compared to in the other groups. In particular, the AI significantly improved the hair surface damage at 8 weeks compared to the baseline. In vitro, the AI reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines by activating the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78).

Conclusion: AI improve skin barrier function and hair damage and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in dogs.

Keywords: TEWL; autophagy; dog; hair; keratinocytes; skin.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and the Republic of Korea (NRF-2016R1D1A3B04934798 and NRF-2020R1A2C2005364).