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Dietary pulverized konjac glucomannan suppresses scratching behavior and skin inflammatory immune responses in NC/Nga
Nobukazu Onishi1, Seiji Kawamoto, Hidenori Suzuki
1Department of Research and Development, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan. onishi@nishikawa-rbr.co.jp
Background:
Feeding with pulverized konjac glucomannan (PKGM) suppresses the development of eczema and hyper-IgE production in NC/Nga mice, a model of atopic dermatitis. This study aimed to examine the effects of PKGM on scratching behavior and skin inflammatory immune responses in NC/Nga mice.
Methods:
Four-week-old NC/Nga mice were maintained for 8 or 9 weeks on diet containing PKGM. Scratching behavior and clinical symptoms were evaluated every 2 weeks. Effects of PKGM on cutaneous inflammation were evaluated by histopathological analysis. Local expression levels of substance P and proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA.
Results:
An increase in scratching behavior was evident from 6 weeks of age in control mice, but this symptom was dose-dependently inhibited in PKGM-fed mice. Continuous PKGM feeding then significantly inhibited eczematous skin lesions including hyperkeratosis, dermal mastocytosis and eosinophilia. Concomitantly, cutaneous overproductions of substance P, IL-10, IL-4, and TNF-alpha were all suppressed in PKGM-fed mice.
Conclusions:
PKGM feeding markedly suppressed development of scratching behavior, substance P expression with mastocytosis, and skin inflammatory immune responses in NC/Nga mice.
