Improved Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Liposomal Astaxanthin on a Phthalic Anhydride-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Model

Abstract

Previously, we found that astaxanthin (AST) elicited an anti-inflammatory response in an experimental atopic dermatitis (AD) model. However, the use of AST was limited because of low bioavailability and solubility. We hypothesized that liposome formulation of AST could improve this. In this study, we compared the anti-inflammatory and anti-dermatotic effects of liposomal AST (L-AST) and free AST. We evaluated the effect of L-AST on a phthalic anhydride (PA)-induced animal model of AD by analyzing morphological and histopathological changes. We measured the mRNA levels of AD-related cytokines in skin tissue and immunoglobulin E concentrations in the serum. Oxidative stress and transcriptional activities of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB were analyzed via western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PA-induced dermatitis severity, epidermal thickening, and infiltration of mast cells in skin tissues were ameliorated by L-AST treatment. L-AST suppressed AD-related inflammatory mediators and the inflammation markers, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in PA-induced skin conditions. Oxidative stress and expression of antioxidant proteins, glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), were recovered by L-AST treatment in skin tissues from PA-induced mice. L-AST treatment reduced transcriptional activity of STAT3 and NF-κB in PA-induced skin tissues. Our results indicate that L-AST could be more effective than free AST for AD therapy.

Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiome in Inflammatory Skin Diseases

“…Nano-drug delivery system is also one of the most effective methods for therapy ( Quispe et al, 2021 ). Some studies have shown that the drug-carrying liposomes, for example, the liposome astaxanthin treatment of AD, are better than free astaxanthin ( Lee et al, 2020 ). Guo et al reported a constructed curcumin (a kind of flavonoid)-loaded GA-TPGS-modified multifunctional compounds (Cur@GA-TPGS-ES), percutaneous administration to treat psoriasis, solved the problem of low transdermal permeability of curcumin alone ( Guo et al, 2021 ).…”

Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Effects of Microalgal Carotenoids

“…These actions were related to a down-regulation of NF-κB and its proinflammatory target genes iNOS and COX-2 [260,261]. In the same model, ATX-loaded liposomes were more effective than free ATX in alleviating skin inflammation due to inhibition of oxidative stress and STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways as well as a reduction of IgE, a marker of allergic inflammation [262]. Likewise, oral treatment with ATX enhanced atopic dermatitis-induced pruritus and inflammation, evidenced by an inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and L-histidine decarboxylase levels [263].…”

Advanced nanocarrier- and microneedle-based transdermal drug delivery strategies for skin diseases treatment

“…In a recent study, Lee et al . formulated liposomal astaxanthin (AST) (L-AST) for AD therapy to address the low bioavailability and solubility of AST 122 . The authors compared the anti-inflammatory and anti-dermatological effects of L-AST and free AST in this investigation.…”