epiglucan and Dermatitis--Atopic

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases with serious impact on quality of life. β-Glucans are natural substances with potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity.. In a multicentre open split-body study, we studied the effect of Imunoglukan P4H® cream in a group of 105 patients with AD (39 males, 37%). Evaluation of subjective (visual analogue scale, VAS) and objective (EASI score, eczema area and severity index) characteristics of AD was carried out.. In total, 80 patients (76.2%) completed the study. Topical β-glucan application resulted in the significant improvement of both objective and subjective symptoms of AD. On the application side, significant decline in the number of days with AD exacerbation and its severity was observed. Moreover, the subjects experienced decline of pruritus on the β-glucan half of the body (VAS score: 1.68 vs. 1.95, p < 0.001). During the study, the continual and significant decline of EASI scores on the site of β-glucan application was observed (V4: 1.57 vs. 1.85, p < 0.001). The preparation was in general well tolerated.. This is the first study evaluating and confirming the potential use of β-glucan-based cream as a supportive complementary therapy of atopic dermatitis.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; beta-Glucans; Dermatitis, Atopic; Emollients; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts; Pleurotus; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Epicutaneous sensitization with protein allergen that induces predominant Th2 responses is an important sensitization route in atopic dermatitis. Fungal components have been shown to modulate Th cell differentiation. However, the effects of fungal components on epicutaneous sensitization are unclear.. In this study, we showed that co-administration of curdlan, a dectin-1 agonist, during epicutaneous ovalbumin sensitization of BALB/c mice decreased the IL-5 and IL-13 levels in supernatants of lymph node cell ovalbumin reactivation cultures. Mechanistically, curdlan co-administration decreased IL-4 and IL-1β expressions in draining lymph nodes. Curdlan co-administration also lower the migration of langerin+ CD103- epidermal Langerhans cells into draining lymph nodes at 96 hours post-sensitization which might be attributed to decreased expressions of IL-18 and IL-1β in patched skin. Moreover, adoptive transfer of CFSE-labeled transgenic CD4 T cells confirmed that curdlan co-administration decreased the proliferation and IL-4-production of ovalbumin -specific T cells primed by epidermal Langerhans cells.. These results indicated that concurrent exposure to a dectin-1 agonist suppresses the epicutaneously induced Th2 response by modulating the cytokine expression profiles in draining LNs and the migration of epidermal Langerhans cells. These results highlight the effects of fungal components on epicutaneous allergen sensitization in atopic diseases.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Allergens; Animals; Antigens, Surface; beta-Glucans; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Movement; Dermatitis, Atopic; Interleukin-13; Interleukin-5; Lectins, C-Type; Lymph Nodes; Mannose-Binding Lectins; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Th2 Cells

The development of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) may be related to exposure to mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin and/or fungal glucans. In this study, indoor exposure levels of house dust mite allergens, endotoxins and fungal glucans were measured to determine their possible association with CAD. A case-control study including adult Labrador retrievers with (n=28) and without (controls; n=65) CAD was conducted. Dust samples were collected from the living room floor and the bedding and coat of the dog and these were analyzed for house dust mite allergens Der p1 and Der f1, endotoxin and (1→3)-β-d-glucan levels. Dog owners were also required to return a questionnaire regarding their home characteristics. The endotoxin exposure level in the coats of dogs was significantly inversely associated with CAD (odds ratio 0.38; 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.97; P<0.05). No significant difference was found in exposure levels to house dust mite allergens and fungal glucans. The results indicated that endotoxin exposure is inversely associated with CAD, suggesting a protective effect of high indoor endotoxin exposure towards the development of the condition.

Topics: Allergens; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Arthropod Proteins; beta-Glucans; Case-Control Studies; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Dermatitis, Atopic; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Endotoxins; Environmental Exposure; Female; Fungi; Logistic Models; Male; Proteoglycans; Surveys and Questionnaires

Human epidermis plays an important role in host defense by acting as a physical barrier and signaling interface between the environment and the immune system. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are crucial to maintain homeostasis and provide protection during infection, but are also causally involved in monogenic auto-inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the epidermal expression of PRRs and several associated host defense molecules in healthy human skin, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis (AD). Using microarray analysis and real-time quantitative PCR, we found that many of these genes are transcribed in normal human epidermis. Only a few genes were differentially induced in psoriasis (CLEC7A (dectin-1), Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, and mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC1)) or AD (MRC1, IL1RN, and IL1β) compared with normal epidermis. A remarkably high expression of dectin-1 mRNA was observed in psoriatic epidermis and this was corroborated by immunohistochemistry. In cultured primary human keratinocytes, dectin-1 expression was induced by IFN-γ, IFN-α, and Th17 cytokines. Keratinocytes were unresponsive, however, to dectin-1 ligands such as β-glucan or heat-killed Candida albicans, nor did we observe synergy with TLR2/TLR5 ligands. In conclusion, upregulation of dectin-1 in psoriatic lesions seems to be under control of psoriasis-associated cytokines. Its role in the biology of skin inflammation and infection remains to be explored.

Topics: Antigens, Fungal; beta-Glucans; Candida albicans; Cells, Cultured; Dermatitis, Atopic; Epidermal Cells; Epidermis; Gene Expression; Humans; Interferons; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-22; Interleukins; Keratinocytes; Lectins, C-Type; Ligands; Membrane Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Psoriasis; RNA, Messenger; Up-Regulation

There is still uncertainty about the determinants of atopic eczema (AE). To explain the heterogeneity of the disease, different phenotypes of AE have been suggested.. The cross-sectional PARSIFAL study included 14 893 school-age children of farmers or children attending Steiner schools and their respective reference groups. A detailed questionnaire was completed, and house dust was collected for the measurement of endotoxin and glucans. Atopic sensitization was defined by allergen-specific IgE levels in the serum.. In multivariate analyses, helping with haying was the only variable related to a farming environment having a consistent inverse association with both current symptoms and a doctor's diagnosis of AE [aOR = 0.65 (95% CI: 0.46-0.93) and 0.73 (0.51-1.05)], respectively. Severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in the first 2 years of life and usage of antibiotics ever were found to be positively related only to asthma-associated AE, whereas the effect of LRTI on AE without asthma had an opposite effect. Levels of beta(1-->3)-glucans in mattress dust were inversely related to a doctor's diagnosis of asthma-associated AE [aOR = 0.75 (0.57-0.98)], and endotoxin levels to current symptoms of asthma-associated AE [aOR = 0.73 (0.57-0.94)].. The analyses of the PARSIFAL study revealed two different phenotypes of AE, depending on the association with asthma and wheezing ever. With regard to the hygiene hypothesis, help with haying, exposure to beta(1-->3)-glucans and endotoxin were found to be inversely associated with the AE phenotype associated with asthma and wheezing.

Topics: Adolescent; Agriculture; Asthma; beta-Glucans; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dermatitis, Atopic; Dust; Endotoxins; Environmental Exposure; Female; Housing; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Immunoglobulin E; Life Style; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Phenotype; Respiratory Sounds; Surveys and Questionnaires