Inhibitory Effects of Myrrha Water Extract on Atopic Dermatitis Related Chemokines in HaCaT Cells

Abstract

Due to high therapeutic potentials of natural products, the use of medicinal plants is highlighted to treat the various inflammationmediated diseases. Myrrha have been used as a traditional remedy to treat infectious and inflammatory diseases. But, its effects and mechanisms of anti atopic dermatitis (AD) have not been elucidated. The aim of this study is to evaluate anti-allergic and antiinflammatory effects of the water extract of Myrrha, in cell models and also to suggest a putative mechanism of AD actions of Myrrha. HaCaT cells were pre-treated with Myrrha for 1 h and stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN- γ) (10 ng/mL each). After 24 h, cells were harvested To evaluate the expression of Th2 chemokines, such as C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5, also known as RANTES), C-C chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17, also known as TARC) and C-C chemokine ligand 22 (CCL22, also known as MDC). To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of Myrrha, we also assessed the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) signaling pathways in HaCaT cells. Treatment of Myrrha decreased the mRNA levels of RANTES, TARC and MDC with a concentration dependent manner. In addition, Myrrha significantly reduced TNF-α and IFN-γ induced phosphorylation of STAT1. This could indicate that the Myrrha shows anti AD activity mainly through STAT1. Thus, we propose that Myrrha may be a promising anti AD skin protector, which could suggest the clinical basis for cosmetics development.