The Inhibitory Effect of Human Placenta Extract (Laennec ® ) on Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Disease In Vivo and In Vitro

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic inflammatory skin disease accompanied by severe itching and eczema. Human placenta extract (PE), used for treatment of conditions related to hepatic function, possess anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of PE against AD in a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model, and in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interferon (IFN)-γ-stimulated human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and immunized splenocytes. We confirmed that subcutaneous administration of PE (200 or 400 µL, twice a week) improved AD skin lesions and reduced the spleen index in mice. In addition, the expression levels of immune-related and proinflammatory factors were suppressed in serum and skin tissue. These results were consistent with the tendency observed in HaCaT cells and splenocytes. Intriguingly, human-derived PE had no side effects, such as loss of muscle mass, compared to corticosteroid, which was used as a positive control. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PE effectively inhibits the development of AD and might be a potentially useful therapeutic agent for AD-like skin disease.