Backgrounds: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory, and relapsing skin disorder that occurs due to a Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance and an elevation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. We investigated whether chlorin e6 (Ce6)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), which is commonly used for the clinical treatment of several cancers and non-neoplastic skin disorders, has a therapeutic effect on AD.
Methods: β-hexosaminidase assay was performed in RBL-2H3 stimulated by DNP-BSA. Total IgE levels and serum cytokine levels were analyzed by ELISA assay. Eosinophils and mast cells were analyzed by hematoxylin- eosin stain and toluidine blue stain on ear of AD mouse model.
Results: Ce6-mediated PDT significantly reduced the secretion of β-hexosaminidase in DNP-BSA-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. In a DNCB-induced AD-like mouse model, serum IFN-γ was found to be elevated in conjunction with reduced IL-4 following Ce6-mediated PDT. The DNCB-induced serum IgE level was also reduced following Ce6-mediated PDT. In addition, DNCB-induced infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells was decreased by Ce6-mediated PDT in the mouse ear.
Conclusion: Ce6-mediated PDT might be used as a potent therapeutics for AD via restoring Th1/Th2 balance and reducing over expressed immune cells.