Evaluation of Artemisia dubia folium extract-mediated immune efficacy through developing a murine model for acute and chronic stages of atopic dermatitis

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a biphasic type of skin inflammation characterized by a predominance of type-2 (T_H2) and type-1 (T_H1) helper T cell-biased immune responses at the acute and persistent chronic phases, respectively. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Artemisia dubia folium extract (ADFE) on AD-like skin lesions through developing a murine model for acute and chronic stages of AD. To induce acute phase AD, the dorsal skin of BALB/c mice was sensitized twice a week with 1% 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), followed by challenge (twice) in the following week with 0.2% DNCB. To induce persistent chronic AD, some mice were challenged twice a week for 4 more weeks. After the second challenge, the dorsal skin was exposed to 3% ADFE (five times per week) for 2 weeks (acute phase) or 4 weeks (persistent chronic phase).

Results: The paradigm of T_H2 or T_H1 predominance at the acute and chronic phase, respectively, was observed in this mouse model. During the acute phase, we observed an increased IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in splenic culture supernatants, an increased IgG1/IgG2a ratio in serum, and elevated serum IgE levels; however, the skew toward T_H2 responses was diminished during the chronic stage. Compared with vehicle controls, ADFE reduced the IL-4/IFN-γ and IgG1/IgG2a ratios in acute AD, but both ratios increased during the chronic stage.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that ADFE concomitantly suppresses the T_H2 predominant response in acute AD, as well as the T_H1 predominant response in chronic AD. Thus, ADFE is a candidate therapeutic for AD.