[Effect and mechanisms of rutaecarpine on treating atopic dermatitis in mice]

To study the effect of Rutaecarpine on the treatment of atopic dermatitis in mice.

DNCB was repeatedly applied on the back of NC/Nga mice to establish the animal model of atopic dermatitis. The mice without and with treatments with various does of Rutaecarpine were compared. Atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions were evaluated by skin histopathology and immunological parameters. The plasma IL-4, IgE and IFN-gamma were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Topical DNCB induced eczematous dermatitis in Nc/Nga mice. The animal model of atopic dermatitis had higher levels of plasma IgE than the normal mice [(124.42 +/- 11.14) ng/mL vs. (17.22 +/- 3.56) ng/mL, P < 0.05]. The animal model of atopic dermatitis treated with Rutaecarpine had higher levels of plasma IFN-gamma level [(68.29 +/- 1.39) pg/mL] than those without treatment [(51.23 +/- 11.45) pg/mL]. The animal model of atopic dermatitis treated with Rutaecarpine had lower levels of plasma IL-4 and IgE [(72.11 +/- 2.13) pg/mL and (69.17 +/- 4.15) ng/mL, respectively] than those without treatment [(95.49 +/- 6.32) pg/mL and (124.42 +/- 11.14) ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.05]. No significant differences in plasma levels of IL-4, IFN-gamma and IgE were found between the mice treated with Rutaecarpine and those treated with Dexamethasone Acetate Cream [(76.14 +/- 3.63) pg/mL, (64.12 +/- 1.19) pg/mL, and (68.17 +/- 1.15) ng/mL, respectively, P > 0.05].

The therapeutic effect of Rutaecarpine on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions may be taken through inhibiting IgE and IL-4 synthesis and promoting the secretion of IFN-gamma.