Introduction
Osthole (OST), an active compound isolated from
Cnidium monnieri
, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of human diseases. Although OST has a good therapeutic effect, the underlying mechanism of its action in inflammatory skin diseases in humans is still unknown.
Purpose
The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that OST can be used as an herbal substance that minimizes skin inflammation and barrier dysfunction. In this study, histamine and LPS were used to induce inflammation in skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts to test whether OST can inhibit their responses.
Methods
Cell migration was analyzed using a wound healing assay. Changes in cell monolayer integrity were assessed by the measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance. Secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL5/RANTES, and COX-2 was measured by ELISA, while expression of
TLR2, NF-κB
, and
COX
-2 was analyzed by qPCR.
Results
OST decreased the level of IL-1β, TNF-α, CCL2/MCP-1 and CCL5/RANTES, and expression of
TLR2, NF-κB
and
COX-2
during histamine/LPS-induced inflammation in human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. OST also improved cell migration and cell barrier function.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that OST suppresses inflammatory responses via regulation of IL-1β, TNF-α, CCL2/MCP-1 and CCL5/RANTES secretion, and
TLR2
, and
COX-2
expression.