Therapeutic potential of ozone water treatment in alleviating atopic dermatitis symptoms in mouse models: Exploring its bactericidal and direct anti-inflammatory properties

Acute and Subacute Oral Exposure to Inorganic Arsenic Significantly Impacted the Pathology of a Mouse Model With Th2- and Th17-, But Not Th1-Dependent Allergy Development

Increased blood levels of inorganic arsenic compounds (iAs) are associated with the onset of allergic diseases. This study investigated the direct relationship between oral exposure to iAs and the onset of several allergic diseases. A mouse model of type 1, 2, and 17 helper T cell (Th1, Th2, and Th17) dependent allergies was generated in female BALB/c mice by topical treatment with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, and imiquimod. Several concentrations of iAs (0, 0.3, 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) were administered orally for 3 or 4 days during each allergen challenge. Itch behavior and changes in skin thickness were monitored, the animals were euthanized, and inflammatory responses in the auricular lymph nodes and skin were analyzed. The influence of subacute oral exposure to iAs (0.3 and 3, and 24-52 days) on the development of chronic Th2 allergy was examined using mouse models of TDI-induced atopic dermatitis and Dermatophagoides farinae-induced asthma. Acute oral exposure to iAs significantly exacerbated Th2- and Th17-dependent allergies, whereas Th1-dependent allergic reactions were not significantly influenced. The influence of iAs exposure on Th2- and Th17-dependent allergy development was corroborated by subacute oral exposure to low concentrations of iAs in a chronic model of Th2 allergy. Symptoms and immune reactions were significantly increased following iAs exposure. Our findings imply that oral exposure to inorganic arsenic significantly affects the pathology of a mouse model of Th2- and Th17-dependent allergy development, but not a Th1-dependent allergy.

The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against Candida albicans: Mechanisms and Efficacy

The growing emergence of resistance mechanisms and side effects associated with antifungal agents highlight the need for alternative therapies. This study aims to investigate the antifungal potential of ozonated extra-virgin olive oil (EOO) against Candida albicans, with the goal of developing eco-friendly and highly effective treatments based on natural products. Antifungal activity was evaluated via cell viability and biofilm formation assays using Crystal Violet and Sytox green staining. The results showed that EOO reduced C. albicans viability in a dose-dependent manner, achieving over 90% cell death at a 3% (v/v) concentration. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed cell wall structural damage, and ROS levels increased by approximately 60% compared to untreated controls within 10 min of treatment. Additionally, the expression of autophagy-related genes atg-7 and atg-13was upregulated by 2- and 3.5-fold, respectively, after 15 min, suggesting a stress-induced cell death response. EOO also significantly inhibited hyphal formation and biofilm development, thus reducing C. albicans pathogenicity while preserving cell biocompatibility. EOO antifungal activity was also observed in the case of Candida glabrata. In conclusion, ozonated olive oil demonstrates potent antifungal activity against C. albicans by reducing cell viability, inhibiting hyphal and biofilm formation, and triggering oxidative stress and autophagy pathways. These findings position EOO as a promising alternative therapy for fungal infections.

Sub-acute oral exposure to lowest observed adverse effect level of nivalenol exacerbates atopic dermatitis in mice via direct activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signal in antigen-presenting cells

This study investigated the immunotoxic effects of the mycotoxin nivalenol (NIV) using antigen-presenting cells and a mouse model of atopic dermatitis (AD). In vitro experiments were conducted using a mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) and mouse dendritic cell line (DC 2.4). After cells were exposed to NIV (0.19-5 µmol) for 24 h, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα) was quantified. To further investigate the inflammatory cytokine production pathway, the possible involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, such as ERK1/2, p-38, and JNK, in NIV exposure was analyzed using MAPK inhibitors and phosphorylation analyses. In addition, the pro-inflammatory effects of oral exposure to NIV at low concentrations (1 or 5 ppm) were evaluated in an NC/Nga mouse model of hapten-induced AD. In vitro experiments demonstrated that exposure to NIV significantly enhanced the production of TNFα. In addition, it also directly induced the phosphorylation of MAPK, indicated by the inhibition of TNFα production following pretreatment with MAPK inhibitors. Oral exposure to NIV significantly exacerbated the symptoms of AD, including a significant increase in helper T cells and IgE-produced B cells in auricular lymph nodes and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, compared with the vehicle control group. Our findings indicate that exposure to NIV directly enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p-38, and JNK, resulting in a significant increase in TNFα production in antigen-presenting cells, which is closely related to the development of atopic dermatitis.