알쏭이모자반(Sargassum confusum) 에탄올 추출물의 항염증 및 항아토피 효과

Abstract

This study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic effects of Sargassum confusum ethanol extract (SCEE). Inflammation is one of the biological defensive responses to physical stimulation or microbial infection and plays a very important role as a mechanism for recovering tissue or organ damage. Immune cells are activated by invasion of stimulating substances such as Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and allergens, and inflammation begins by secreting inflammatory mediators. Macrophages are one of the first defense mechanisms against infection sources and are essential cells in host defense systems against microbial infections and tumors. LPS is a factor that activates macrophages as a component of the outer cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria with endotoxin. LPS is recognized by TLR4 on the macrophage surface and activates the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, increasing the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and producing inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The anti-inflammatory effect of SCEE (0, 1, 10, 50 μg/mL) was identified using LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. As a result, it was confirmed that inflammatory factors such as NO, PGE2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines(IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) were suppressed by inhibiting expression of COX-2 and iNOS without any cytotoxicity. It was shown that the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and NF-kB p65, transcription factors, was inhibited by SCEE does-dependent manner. In addition, the formation of mouse ear edema and ear thickness was reduced in the SCEE application group compared to that of the control. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with clinical symptoms such as benign symptoms, dry skin, and eczema, and pathological characteristics such as invasion of immune cells and increased inflammatory mediators in skin lesions. In the case of skin lesions in patients with acute atopic dermatitis, Th2 cells have a dominant environment compared to Th1 cells, and accordingly, the expression of Th2 cytokine and inflammatory cytokine is increasing. Th2 cytokines also activate B cells to produce excess IgE. Excessive IgE sensitizes mast cells in the epidermis and causes degranulation of chemicals such as histamine, exacerbating symptoms such as itching. Therefore, an increase in blood IgE levels and Th2 cytokine levels in patients with acute atopic dermatitis is known as a representative immunological characteristic. In the in vitro test, Con A and SCEE (0.1, 1, 10, 50, 100 μg/mL) were treated in mouse splenocyte to confirm the production of Th2 cytokine. As a result, Th2 cytokine was suppressed by SCEE does-dependent manner. In order to analysis inhibitory effect of atopic dermatitis, SCEE (10, 50 mg/mL) was applied to the dorsal skin of 2,4-dinitrochlorobezene induced BALB/c mice. In the clinical severity evaluation to confirm the severity of atopic dermatitis, skin clinical severity score of atopic dermatitis in mice was decreased by the application of SCEE. In blood analysis, SCEE significantly reduced the number of WBC, lymphocytes, eosinophils in blood. In addition, the application of SCEE significantly decreased the secretion of TNF-α and IgE in the serum and the secretion of IL-10 increased. Moreover, the production of IL-4 and IL-5, Th2 cytokines,in splenocytes was significantly decreased, and the secretion of IFN-γ, Th1 cytokine, was significantly increased. Therefore, it is believed that SCEE can be applied to the development of anti-inflammatory and atopic disease therapy.