Osthole ameliorates chronic pruritus in 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis by inhibiting IL-31 production.

Shuang HE; Xiaoling LIANG; Weixiong CHEN; Yangji NIMA; Yi LI; Zihui GU; Siyue LAI; Fei ZHONG; Caixiong QIU; Yuying MO; Jiajun TANG; Guanyi WU

Return

Osthole ameliorates chronic pruritus in 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis by inhibiting IL-31 production.

Author: Shuang HE ¹ ; Xiaoling LIANG ¹ ; Weixiong CHEN ² ; Yangji NIMA ¹ ; Yi LI ¹ ; Zihui GU ¹ ; Siyue LAI ¹ ; Fei ZHONG ¹ ; Caixiong QIU ¹ ; Yuying MO ³ ; Jiajun TANG ³ ; Guanyi WU ¹
Author Information

1. School of Basic Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530299, China.
2. School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
3. School of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530299, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson; IL-31; NF-κB; PPAR; atopic dermatitis; chronic pruritus; osthole
From: Chinese Herbal Medicines 2025;17(2):368-379
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic potential of osthole for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), focusing on its ability to alleviate chronic pruritus (CP) and the underlying molecular mechanisms.
METHODS:In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of osthole in both a 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulated huma immortalized epidermal (HaCaT) cells. The anti-itch effect of osthole was specifically assessed in the AD mouse model. Using methods such as hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot (WB), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence staining.
RESULTS:Osthole improved skin damage and clinical dermatitis scores, reduced scratching bouts, and decreased epidermal thickness AD-like mice. It also reduced the levels of interleukin (IL)-31 and IL-31 receptor A (IL-31 RA) in both skin tissues and HaCaT cells. Furthermore, Osthole suppressed the protein expression levels of phosphor-p65 (p-p65) and phosphor-inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-Bα (p-IκBα). Meanwhile, it increased the protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and PPARγ in HaCaT cells.
CONCLUSION:These findings indicated that osthole effectively inhibited CP in AD by activating PPARα, PPARγ, repressing the NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as the expression of IL-31 and IL-31 RA.