Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the therapeutic effects of Red Liriope platyphylla (RLP) on atopic dermatitis (AD), alterations in the luciferase (Luc) signal and general phenotype biomarkers were compared in phthalic anhydride (PA) treated Interleukin-4 (IL-4)/Luc/Consensus non-coding sequence-1 (CNS-1) transgenic (Tg) mice following treatment with aqueous extract of RLP (AEtRLP) for 4 weeks.
Methods: Alterations in AD phenotypes were measured in IL-4/Luc/CNS-1 Tg mice following treatment with AEtRLP using inflammation parameter analysis, bioluminescence imaging analysis, histological analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis.
Results: RLP contained high concentrations of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compounds and 5-HNE related to AD therapy. The Luc signal was only detected in the abdominal region and the submandibular lymph node (SL), mesenteric lymph node (ML), thymus and pancreas of the PA treated group. This signal was significantly decreased by 28%-73% throughout the body and in the four organs in PA+AEtRLP treated group. Furthermore, the lymph node weight, immunoglobulin E concentration and dermal thickness were decreased by 37%-67% in the PA+AEtRLP treated group.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of AEtRLP on PA induced AD could be successfully quantified by comparison of Luc signals and AD phenotype markers in IL-4/Luc/CNS-1 Tg mice, and that the Luc signal was as sensitive as the general AD phenotypes, enabling detection of effects without euthanasia.
Keywords: Dermatitis, Atopic; Immunoglobulin E; Interleukin-4; Liriope plant; Luciferases; Mice, transgenic; Phthalic anhydrides.