Epidermal Growth Factor Relieves Inflammatory Signals in -Treated Human Epidermal Keratinocytes and Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions in Nc/Nga Mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a defective immunologic barrier, which is aggravated by . Epidermal growth factor (EGF) suppresses inflammation and EGF receptor inhibitors increased colonization. Thus, we investigated the potential roles of EGF in AD, which is often aggravated by . We determined how EGF affects the expression of inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) treated with heat-inactivated (HKSA) and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced AD-like skin lesions in Nc/Nga mice. HKSA increased IL-6 and NFB expression; EGF treatment had the opposite effect. EGF increased human defensin-2 expression in HEKs and murine defensin-3 in mice. In mice, both EGF and pimecrolimus groups showed less erythema with significantly reduced inflammation and decreased expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin. EGF relieved -induced inflammation and AD-like skin lesions in Nc/Nga mice. Therefore, EGF could be a potential topical treatment for AD.