Supervisors info:
Μιχαήλ Ράλλης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φαρμακευτικής, Σχολή Επιστημών Υγείας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.
Summary:
Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease
characterized by multifactorial pathophysiology and a wide range of clinical phenotypes.
Important factors are the dysfunction of the skin barrier and the disturbance of the balance of
the Th1 and Th2 immune response. The most common treatments are topical corticosteroids and
calcineurin inhibitors, which cause a variety of side effects such as skin atrophy, telangiectasias
and heartburn, while data on long-term use of calcineurin inhibitors are scarce. The above show
the need to find new treatment options that are efficacious and well tolerated. Synthetic and
natural cinnamic acid derivatives have shown significant in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory effects with promising results on autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis
and atopic dermatitis.
Methods: The activity of five phenolic derivatives with anti-inflammatory properties was
studied on a SKH-hr1 hairless mice model of atopic dermatitis. Induction of AD was performed
by daily topical application of hapten 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). The model
satisfactorily simulates human AD, in terms of histopathological, immunological and clinical
picture. The topical preparations under consideration were: 2MECAT, KP20, NAPTHPA,
Rosmarinic Acid and APG-1. The molecules were incorporated in topical formulations at a
concentration of 0.15% w/w with a PEG 400/PEG3000 (80/20) mixture used as a vehicle. The
preparations were applied to the dorsal area of the mice (at a dose of 5mg/cm2
), once a day, for
a period of 20 days.
Results/Conclusions: From the evaluation of the results, it turned out that induction of AD had
a significant effect, both on the skin and the psychological condition of the mice. 2MECAT and
KP20 showed a therapeutic contribution compared to the other molecules and the control group,
without leading to total cure, at this dose. They also had a positive effect on the psychological
condition of the mice. The control, vehicle and rosmarinic acid groups showed negative results,
with the control group manifesting signs of depression. APG-1 does not seem promising for the
treatment of AD in these conditions. NAPTHPA had neutral effect.
Keywords:
atopic dermatitis, in vivo, phenolic derivatives, mice
