Liu Chin-Feng, Chao Wen-Yu, Shih Tsung-Wei, Lee Chun-Lin, Pan Tzu-Ming
Continuing Education Program of Food Biotechnology Applications, National Taitung University, Taitung 950017, Taiwan.
SunWay Biotech Co., Taipei 114063, Taiwan.
Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2024 Sep 24;46(10):10714-10730. doi: 10.3390/cimb46100636.
Chronic allergic skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD), are characterized by pruritus, erythema, xerosis, desquamation, and inflammation, significantly impacting quality of life. Long-term steroid use, while common in treatment, carries the risk of adverse effects. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of subsp. NTU 101 (NTU 101) in alleviating AD symptoms from a preventive perspective. This study, however, focuses on exploring NTU 101's therapeutic potential by investigating its effects on regulatory T cell (Treg) maturation and Th1/Th2 balance. The results revealed that NTU 101 administration effectively reduced serum IgE levels and inflammatory cell infiltration in the skin, leading to a significant improvement in both epidermal and dermal thickness in the AD model. Additionally, NTU 101 modulated the immune response by increasing the proportion of CD4+/IL-4+ (Th2) cells in the spleen and concurrently enhancing FOXP3 expression in CD4+/CD25+ cells, which is critical for Treg cell development. This immune modulation was further associated with a rebalancing of the Th1/Th2 ratio, achieved by increasing the proportion of CD4+/IFN-γ+ (Th1) cells. Moreover, NTU 101 influenced the proportion of CD4+IL-17+ (Th17) cells, thereby supporting neutrophil maturation and promoting allergen clearance, ultimately mitigating AD symptoms. These findings underscore the potential of NTU 101 not only in managing AD symptoms but also in modulating key immune pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, offering a promising alternative or adjunct to conventional steroid therapies.
慢性过敏性皮肤疾病，包括特应性皮炎（AD），其特征为瘙痒、红斑、皮肤干燥、脱屑和炎症，严重影响生活质量。长期使用类固醇在治疗中很常见，但存在不良反应风险。先前的研究已从预防角度证明了亚种NTU 101（NTU 101）在减轻AD症状方面的潜力。然而，本研究通过调查NTU 101对调节性T细胞（Treg）成熟和Th1/Th2平衡的影响，着重探索其治疗潜力。结果显示，给予NTU 101可有效降低血清IgE水平和皮肤中的炎症细胞浸润，使AD模型的表皮和真皮厚度均有显著改善。此外，NTU 101通过增加脾脏中CD4+/IL-4+（Th2）细胞的比例，同时增强CD4+/CD25+细胞中FOXP3的表达来调节免疫反应，而FOXP3表达对Treg细胞发育至关重要。这种免疫调节还与Th1/Th2比例的重新平衡相关，这是通过增加CD4+/IFN-γ+（Th1）细胞的比例实现的。此外，NTU 101影响CD4+IL-17+（Th17）细胞的比例，从而支持中性粒细胞成熟并促进过敏原清除，最终减轻AD症状。这些发现强调了NTU 101不仅在控制AD症状方面的潜力，还在于调节该疾病发病机制中涉及的关键免疫途径，为传统类固醇疗法提供了一种有前景的替代或辅助治疗方法。
