Abstract
Objective : This study was designed to identify lipid protection formation in stratum corneum and anti-inflammatory effects of Sopungdojeok-tang(SD) on atopic dermatitis(AD). Materials and Methods : In Vivo, SD extract was orally administered to BALB/c mice at $2.5m{\ell}/kg/day$ for 2 days after 5% sodium dodecyl sulfate evoked atopic dermatitis in abdominal skin. Morphological changes were observed by immunohistochemical stain using monoclonal antibodies(BrdU, ceramide, MIP-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50, IL-4, and STAT6) and TUNEL method. In vitro, the alterations of IL-4 mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCT in SD extract treated EL4 cells after phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and 4-tert-Octylphenol induce Th2 skewed condition. Results : SD is used in Oriental Medicine for its potential curative for atopic dermatitis. In this study, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory and lipid lamella repair effects of SD were investigated. SD decreased the number of eosinophil in atopic dermatitis induced mice. In the histological properties, the hyperplasia, edema, infiltration of lymphocytes, damage of intercellular space of stratum corneum, BrdU positive reacted cells in stratum basal, and degranulated mast cells and capillaries in dermal papillae decreased in mice with SD. Treatment of SD also decreased MIP-2, STAT6 and IL-4 in dermal papillae. The IL-4 mRNA expression decreased in a dose-dependant manner in SD treated EL4 cells. In addition, decrease of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 and increase of apoptotic cells in dermis were observed in SD treated mice. These data suggest that SD may beneficial for atopic dermatitis. Conclusions : These data suggest that SD is beneficial in treatment of atopic dermatitis, and that SD provides lipid protection in stratum corneum and anti-inflammatory effects on atopic dermatitis.