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Vitamin E ointment at high dose levels suppresses contact dermatitis in rats by stabilizing keratinocytes
K Kuriyama1, T Shimizu, T Horiguchi
1Medical Research Laboratory, Sekisui Chemical Co. LTD, 2-1 Hyakuyama Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka 618, Japan. kuriyama003@smile2.sekisui.co.jp
Objective:
The pharmacological effect of vitamin E ointment at high dose levels was investigated in rats and mice during the development of contact dermatitis.
Materials And Methods:
Allergic or irritant contact dermatitis was induced in sensitized or unsensitized animals by topical application of chemical agent(s). Cultured keratinocytes were prepared from dorsal skin of rats.
Results:
The vitamin E ointment at 20-40% suppressed allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, exerting a comparable effect to that of 0.5% prednisolone ointment. Microscopic findings revealed that 20% vitamin E ointment reduced the keratinocyte damage, whereas 0.5% prednisolone was ineffective. The protective action of vitamin E on keratinocyte damage was also confirmed in a cell culture experiment. Furthermore, 20% vitamin E ointment blocked down-regulation of skin barrier function induced by contact dermatitis, although 0.5% prednisolone ointment was inactive.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that 20% vitamin E ointment suppresses contact dermatitis by stabilizing keratinocytes, concomitantly with novel, interesting properties.