A topical Chinese herbal mixture improves epidermal permeability barrier function in normal murine skin.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been shown to have beneficial effects for both skin disorders with barrier abnormality and as skin care ingredients. Yet, how CHM exerts their benefits is unclear. As most, if not all, inflammatory dermatoses are accompanied by abnormal permeability barrier function, we assessed the effects of topical CHM extracts on epidermal permeability barrier function and their potential mechanisms. Topical CHM accelerated barrier recovery following acute barrier disruption. Epidermal lipid content and mRNA expression of fatty acid and ceramide synthetic enzymes increased following topical CHM treatment in addition to mRNA levels for the epidermal glucosylceramide transport protein, ATP-binding cassette A12. Likewise, CHM extract increased mRNA expression of antimicrobial peptides both in vivo and in vitro. These results demonstrate that the topical CHM extract enhances epidermal permeability barrier function, suggesting that topical CHM could provide an alternative regimen for the prevention/treatment of inflammatory dermatoses accompanied by barrier abnormalities.

Man M ，Hupe M ，Mackenzie D ，Kim H ，Oda Y ，Crumrine D ，Lee SH ，Martin-Ezquerra G ，Trullas C ，Mauro TM ，Feingold KR ，Elias PM ，Man MQ ... -  《-》

Topical calcineurin inhibitors compromise stratum corneum integrity, epidermal permeability and antimicrobial barrier function.

Kim M ，Jung M ，Hong SP ，Jeon H ，Kim MJ ，Cho MY ，Lee SH ，Man MQ ，Elias PM ，Choi EH ... -  《-》

Topical apigenin improves epidermal permeability barrier homoeostasis in normal murine skin by divergent mechanisms.

The beneficial effects of certain herbal medicines on cutaneous function have been appreciated for centuries. Among these agents, chrysanthemum extract, apigenin, has been used for skin care, particularly in China, for millennia. However, the underlying mechanisms by which apigenin benefits the skin are not known. In this study, we first determined whether topical apigenin positively influences permeability barrier homoeostasis, and then the basis thereof. Hairless mice were treated topically with either 0.1% apigenin or vehicle alone twice daily for 9 days. At the end of the treatments, permeability barrier function was assessed with either an electrolytic water analyzer or a Tewameter. Our results show that topical apigenin significantly enhanced permeability barrier homoeostasis after tape stripping, although basal permeability barrier function remained unchanged. Improved barrier function correlated with enhanced filaggrin expression and lamellar body production, which was paralleled by elevated mRNA levels for the epidermal ABCA12. The mRNA levels for key lipid synthetic enzymes also were upregulated by apigenin. Finally, both cathelicidin-related peptide and mouse beta-defensin 3 immunostaining were increased by apigenin. We conclude that topical apigenin improves epidermal permeability barrier function by stimulating epidermal differentiation, lipid synthesis and secretion, as well as cutaneous antimicrobial peptide production. Apigenin could be useful for the prevention and treatment of skin disorders characterized by permeability barrier dysfunction, associated with reduced filaggrin levels and impaired antimicrobial defenses, such as atopic dermatitis.

Hou M ，Sun R ，Hupe M ，Kim PL ，Park K ，Crumrine D ，Lin TK ，Santiago JL ，Mauro TM ，Elias PM ，Man MQ ... -  《-》

IL-1α stimulation restores epidermal permeability and antimicrobial barriers compromised by topical tacrolimus.

Jung YJ ，Jung M ，Kim M ，Hong SP ，Choi EH ... -  《-》

Chinese herbal medicine (Tuhuai extract) exhibits topical anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activity in murine disease models.

Man MQ ，Shi Y ，Man M ，Lee SH ，Demerjian M ，Chang S ，Feingold KR ，Elias PM ... -  《-》