Psoriasis

Anthralin modulates the expression pattern of cytokeratins and antimicrobial peptides by psoriatic keratinocytes

Background: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease with aberrant keratinocyte proliferation, presumably as a result of immune cell activation. Th17 cytokines like IL-17A and IL-22 are critically implicated in epidermal thickening, altered keratinocyte differentiation and production of innate factors such as antimicrobial peptides. Psoriasis treatment options include modern targeted therapies using anti-cytokine antibodies and traditional […]

Skin irritation and potential efficacy of a novel compound for localized treatment of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic condition characterized by formation of white scaly patches on the skin. Current treatment options include topical glucocorticoids which have several side effects. Pentaerythritol tetrakis (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate) (PTTC) is a cinnamate tetraester which may be used as a novel topical treatment for psoriasis with less side effects. The purpose of this study was […]

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 3D PSORIATIC TISSUE MODEL.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease marked by hyperproliferation and abnormal keratinocyte differentiation that affects about 2% of the global population.  In this study, we developed a human cell based in vitro psoriatic tissue model from psoriatic fibroblasts and normal keratinocytes using an optimized serum-free culture medium.  When compared to normal skin reconstructs, confocal microscopic […]

DELPHINIDIN INDUCES EPIDERMAL DIFFERENTIATION AND INHIBITS PROLIFERATION AND INFLAMMATION IN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTITUTED SKIN MODEL OF PSORIASIS.

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation and aberrant keratinocyte differentiation. Several lines of evidence suggest that intrinsic alterations of the epidermis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Identification of natural agents that possess the ability to abrogate these effects could be useful for the treatment of […]

THREE DIMENSIONAL (3D) RECONSTRUCTED PSORIATIC TISSUE MODEL.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that affects about 2% of the global population. Availability of well characterized in vitro psoriatic tissue model will enhance our understanding of the disease and the development of therapeutic strategies.  In this study, an in vitro three-dimensional psoriatic-like tissue model was reconstructed, culture conditions were optimized, and the model […]

THE SERINE PROTEASE MARAPSIN IS EXPRESSED IN STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIA AND IS UP-REGULATED IN THE HYPERPROLIFERATIVE EPIDERMIS OF PSORIASIS AND REGENERATING WOUNDS.

The trypsin-like serine protease marapsin is a member of the large protease gene cluster at human chromosome 16p13.3, which also contains the structurally related proteases testisin, tryptase €, tryptase γ, and EOS. To gain insight into the biological functions of marapsin, we undertook a detailed gene expression analysis. It showed that marapsin expression was restricted […]

INHIBITION OF TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR-Á SECRETION FROM EPIDERM TISSUES BY A NOVEL SMALL MOLECULE, UTL-5D.

This study by scientists at Unitech Pharmaceuticals, Wayne State University, BioInnovation Laboratories, and the Taiwan National Defense Medical Center demonstrated that Mattek’s EpiDerm in vitro 3-D human skin tissue equivalent could be used to study the dose-dependent reduction of TNF-á by a specific small molecule, UTL-5d, as well as study the feasibility of using this […]

TGF-á REGULATES TLR EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION ON EPIDERMAL KERATINOCYTES.

This study by researchers at the UCLA School of Medicine and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics demonstrated that Mattek’s EpiDerm human skin tissue equivalent can be used to investigate how TGF-á, a growth and differentiation factor present during wound healing and in psoriasis, up-regulates toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and function on keratinocytes, thereby […]

Th17 CYTOKINES INTERLEUKIN (IL)-17 AND IL-22 MODULATE DISTINCT INFLAMMATORY AND KERATINOCYTE-RESPONSE PATHWAYS.

Background Psoriasis vulgaris is an inflammatory skin disease mediated by Th1 and Th17 cytokines, yet the relative contribution. of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 on disease pathogenesis is still unknown. Objectives: In this study, we sought to identify the cytokines produced by skin­-resident T cells in normal skin, localize the receptors for these cytokines, […]

AVOCADO PHYTOSTEROLS DECREASE UVB-INDUCED PRO-INFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS.

Exposure of skin to UVB radiation can cause the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostanoids. Changes in the production of these mediators in the skin can decrease or increase the potentially damaging effects of UVB irradiation. In this series of experiments we investigated the effects of avocado-derived sterols on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-1α, […]

USE OF EPIDERM™ AS AN INFLAMMATORY MODEL FOR PRE-CLINICAL SCREENING.

Organotypic skin models are becoming widely used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries as an alternative to animal testing for screening cosmetics and potential therapeutics for safety and efficacy. The purpose of this study was to test if Mattek’s EpiDerm organotypic skin model can be induced at the molecular level to initiate an inflammatory response. […]

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IN VITRO SCREENING STRATEGY FOR TOPICALLY APPLIED PRODUCTS.

The objective of this study was the pharmaco-toxicological understanding of the constituents of an authenticated herbal mixture. The mixture was prepared by maceration in ethanol and subsequent dilution to produce a topically applied lotion, for which the intended target conditions are psoriasis and eczema. A three-tiered in vitro screening strategy was adopted for evaluating this […]

COLCHICINE PROMOTES ANTIGEN CROSS-PRESENTATION BY MURINE DENDRITIC CELLS.

This study by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center demonstrated that Mattek’s Human Langerhans/Dendritic Cells are an excellent in vitro model for investigating and predicting the likely interactions of drugs (Colchicine) with human dendritic cells. Colchicine (COL) is a microtubule depolymerizing drug that has been widely used for the treatment of many […]

Topological Assessment Of Oatp1A1: A 12-Transmembrane Domain Integral Membrane Protein With Three N-Linked Carbohydrate Chains