Indole-3-carbinol alleviates allergic skin inflammation via periostin/thymic stromal lymphopoietin suppression in atopic dermatitis

Abstract

BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory skin disorder with a complex etiology. Despite its increasing prevalence, treatment of AD is still limited. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is found in cruciferous vegetables and is formed when these vegetables are cut, chewed, or cooked; it exerts diverse pharmacological activities.MethodsHaCaT keratinocytes stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma mixture and NC/Nga mice stimulated with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzen (DNCB) were used for AD models, in vitro and in vivo, respectively.ResultsThe results showed that I3C reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and periostin in in vitro model. Oral administration of I3C alleviated AD-like skin inflammatory symptoms, including serum IgE levels, epidermal thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, transepidermal water loss, and scratching behavior. Moreover, I3C decreased the expression of TSLP and periostin and recovered the expression of skin barrier proteins by regulating Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B pathways in the skin of DNCB-induced AD mice.ConclusionsI3C is suggested as a potential therapeutic alternative for the treatment of AD by repressing allergic inflammatory pathways.