Effect of Baricitinib on TPA-induced psoriasis like skin inflammation

Aminooxy acetic acid suppresses Th17-mediated psoriasis-like skin inflammation by inhibiting serine metabolism

Background: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by an external red rash that is caused by abnormal proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes and immune T cells. This study aimed to elucidate the role of aminooxy acetic acid (AOA) in alleviating psoriasis from the perspective of immunology and metabolomics. Therefore, contributing to the development of new drugs as candidates for psoriasis treatment. Methods: To investigate the symptom-alleviating effects and the related mechanisms of AOA on the treatment of psoriasis, we used a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced psoriasis-like skin mouse model and interleukin (IL)-17-stimulated human keratinocytes. Results: The results showed that AOA ameliorated psoriasis-related symptoms and decreased inflammation-associated antimicrobial peptides and T-helper 17 (Th17)-associated cytokines in a mouse model of psoriasis. Furthermore, AOA inhibited the activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) by suppressing serine metabolism-related genes. Importantly, mTOR inhibition ameliorated psoriatic disease by affecting the differentiation of various T cells and normalizing the Th17/regulatory T (Treg) cell balance. In addition, IL-17-stimulated human keratinocytes showed the same results as in the in vivo experiments. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that targeting the serine metabolism pathway in the treatment of psoriasis is a novel strategy, and that AOA could be utilized as a novel biologic to treat psoriasis.

Perspective insights of small molecules, phytoconstituents and biologics in the management of psoriasis: A focus on targeting major inflammatory cytokine pathways

Psoriasis is an enduring, pruritic and papulosquamous skin ailment that poses a significant burden on public health. It is mainly characterized by hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, parakeratosis, scaly and erythematous plaques. Biomarkers like interleukin-17, interleukin-12 and -23 and tumor necrosis factor-α serve as key drivers of psoriatic pathogenesis. Triggered release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from various up-regulated pathways leads to psoriatic inflammation. Several target moieties like biologics, small molecules and herbal moieties play a fundamental role in the repression of pathogenesis of psoriasis. Biologics and small molecules engaged in the management of psoriasis have been emphasized in detail. An insight into nano-carrier interventions on herbal moieties and clinical aspects of psoriasis are also highlighted. This review emphasizes various pathological targets involved in psoriasis.

Baricitinib alleviates lipopolysaccharide‑induced human periodontal ligament stem cell injury and promotes osteogenic differentiation by inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling

Periodontitis is the chronic inflammation of the periodontal tissue. The present study aimed to investigate the role of baricitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK)1/2 inhibitor, in periodontitis by using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) model. The viability of PDLSCs stimulated by LPS was assessed in the presence of baricitinib by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The induction of oxidative stress was evaluated by detecting the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content. ELISA and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR were used to determine the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and alizarin red staining were used to assess the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. The expression levels of osteogenic differentiation- and JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling-associated proteins were estimated with western blotting. RO8191, an agonist of the JAK/STAT pathway, was used to treat PDLSCs to investigate the regulatory mechanism of baricitinib. The results indicated that baricitinib elevated the LPS-induced decrease in cell viability. LPS-triggered oxidative stress and inflammation were inhibited by baricitinib, as demonstrated by the decreased levels of ROS, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and increased levels of SOD and GSH. In addition, baricitinib caused a marked elevation in ALP activity and mineralization ability of PDLSCs, as determined by the upregulated osteocalcin and Runt-related transcription factor 2 expression. Moreover, the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)-JAK1, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were downregulated by baricitinib in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, addition of RO8191 restored the effect of baricitinib on the induction of oxidative stress, inflammation and osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs exposed to LPS. Collectively, these findings suggested that baricitinib alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation and promoted osteogenic differentiation of LPS-induced PDLSCs by inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling.

Assessing the Solubility of Baricitinib and Drug Uptake in Different Tissues Using Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopies

The low water solubility of baricitinib (BCT) limits the development of new formulations for the topical delivery of the drug. The aims of this study were to assess the solubility of BCT in different solvents, including Transcutol, a biocompatible permeation enhancer that is miscible in water, to evaluate the drug uptake in human skin and porcine tissues (sclera, cornea, oral, sublingual, and vaginal), and to subsequently extract the drug from the tissues so as to determine the drug recovery using in vitro techniques. Analytical methods were developed and validated for the quantification of BCT in Transcutol using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, which are complementary to each other and permit the detection of the drug across a broad range of concentrations. Results show that Transcutol permits an increased drug solubility, and that BCT is able to penetrate the tissues studied. The solutions of BCT in Transcutol were stable for at least one week. Hence, Transcutol may be a suitable solvent for further development of topical formulations.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of 3, 5-Diprenyl-4-hydroxyacetophenone Isolated from Ageratina pazcuarensis

Inflammation is implicated in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. Plants are an important source of active anti-inflammatory compounds. The compound 3, 5-diprenyl-4-hydroxyacetophenone (DHAP) was isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts of Ageratina pazcuarensis by chromatography and identified by spectroscopic (IR, NMR) and spectrometric (GC-MS) methods. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on ear edema mouse induced with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) at 2 mg/ear. The antioxidant activity of DHAP was determined using DPPH assay. Cell viability was tested in J774A.1 macrophages, the levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 production in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and membrane lysis induced by hypotonic solution in erythrocytes were evaluated. DHAP diminished the ear edema mouse in 70.10%, and it had scavenger effect against the radical with IC₅₀ of 26.00 ± 0.37 µg/mL. Likewise, 91.78 µM of this compound inhibited the production of NO (38.96%), IL-1β (55.56%), IL-6 (51.62%), and TNF-α (59.14%) in macrophages and increased the levels of IL-10 (61.20%). Finally, 25 and 50 µg/mL DHAP provided the greatest protection against erythrocyte membrane lysis. These results demonstrate that DHAP has anti-inflammatory activity.

Baricitinib Liposomes as a New Approach for the Treatment of Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease affecting from 0.2 to 3% of the general population. The current treatment for Sjögren’s syndrome is aimed at controlling symptoms such as dry eyes and xerostomia. Systemic therapy with glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants is also used. Baricitinib is an immunosuppressant drug, specifically a Janus kinases 1 and 2 selective inhibitor. We propose ocular liposomal formulations loaded with baricitinib for the management of Sjögren’s syndrome. The novelty of the work relies on the fact that, for the first time, baricitinib is intended to be used for topical delivery. Two liposomal formulations were prepared with different lipids: (i) L-α-phosphatidylcholine (Lα-PC) and (ii) a combination of lipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine: s1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoglycerol (3:1, mol/mol) (POPE:POPG), and they were physicochemically characterized. The in vitro drug release and the ex vivo permeation through corneal and scleral tissues were also assessed. Finally, the tolerance of the formulations on the ocular tissues was evaluated by the HET-CAM technique, as well as through the histological analysis of the cornea and sclera and the cornea transparency. Both liposomes resulted in small, spherical shapes, with suitable physicochemical properties for the ocular administration. Lα-PC led to higher flux, permeation, and retention in the sclera, whereas POPE:POPG led to higher flux and permeation in the cornea. The formulations showed no irritant effects on the chorioallantoic membrane. Additionally, the liposomes did not affect the cornea transparency when they were applied, and the histological analysis did not reveal any structural alteration.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Skin Regenerative Potential of Secondary Metabolites from Plants of the Brassicaceae Family: A Systematic Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Preclinical Evidence (Biological Activities Brassicaceae Skin Diseases)

The Brassicaceae family constitutes some of the most well-studied natural products in the world, due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and pro-regenerative properties as well as their ubiquitous distribution across the world. To evaluate the potential efficacy of the Brassicaceae family in the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders and wounds, based on preclinical evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies. This systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines, using a structured search on the PubMed-Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science platforms. The studies included were those that used murine models and in vitro studies to investigate the effect of Brassicaceae on skin disorders. Bias analysis and methodological quality assessments were examined through SYRCLE’s RoB tool. Brassicaceae have shown positive impacts on inflammatory regulation of the skin, accelerating the wound healing process, and inhibiting the development of edema. The studies showed that the Brassicaceae family has antioxidant activity and effects on the modulation of cyclooxygenase 2 and the nuclear factor kappa β (NFκβ) pathway. The secondary metabolites present in Brassicas are polyphenols (68.75%; n = 11), terpenes/carotenoids (31.25%; n = 5), and glycosylates (25%; n = 4), which are responsible for their anti-inflammatory, healing, and antioxidant effects. In addition, the current evidence is reliable because the bias analysis showed a low risk of bias. Our review indicates that compounds derived from Brassicaceae present exceptional potential to treat inflammatory skin diseases and accelerate cutaneous wound healing. We hope that our critical analysis can help to expedite clinical research and to reduce methodological bias, thereby improving the quality of evidence in future research. The registration number on the Prospero platform is CRD42021262953.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Piquerol Isolated from Piqueria trinervia Cav

Background: Inflammation is a complex process as a response to several stimuli, such as infection, a chemical irritant, and the attack of a foreign body. Piquerol was isolated from Piqueria trinervia, and its anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using in vivo and in vitro models. Methods: Piquerol is a monoterpene that was identified using NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry analysis. The anti-inflammatory activity was tested in vivo in ear edema induced with TPA in mice. Piquerol was also tested on J774A.1 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the levels of NO, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 were determined using ELISA. Results: The results show that piquerol diminished ear edema (66.19%). At 150.51 µM, it also inhibited the levels of NO (31.7%), TNF-α (49.8%), IL-1β (69.9%), IL-6 (47.5%), and NF-κB (26.7%), and increased the production of IL-10 (62.3%). Piquerol has a membrane stabilization property in erythrocyte, and at 100 µg/mL, the membrane protection was of 86.17%. Conclusions: Piquerol has anti-inflammatory activity, and its possible mechanism of action is through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators. This compound could be a candidate in the development of new drugs to treat inflammatory problems.

Application of Baricitinib in Dermatology

There are four JAK subtypes: JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2). Small molecule Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK) inhibitors can inhibit a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Baricitinib is the first generation of JAK1/2 inhibitor targeting the ATPase of JAK, which blocks the intracellular transmission of cytokines through JAK-STATs. Thus far, it has been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, an increasing number of studies have suggested that baricitinib can be used to treat dermatological diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, vitiligo, and alopecia areata. Baricitinib can be a new choice for the treatment of dermatological diseases, which cannot be treated with conventional drugs. We reviewed the application, efficacy, side effects, precautions, limitations and prospect of baricitinib in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo and alopecia areata (AA) in recent 5 years including clinical trials and case reports. Among them, the application in the field of alopecia areata is the most encouraging, and we reviewed the mechanism in detail.