Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In Vitro

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and a pro-inflammatory milieu in the skin. While patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are treated using targeted therapies (small molecules and monoclonal antibodies), patients suffering from...

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Main Authors: Fabian Gendrisch, Birgit Haarhaus, Christoph M. Schempp, Ute Wölfle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/19/5814
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author Fabian Gendrisch
Birgit Haarhaus
Christoph M. Schempp
Ute Wölfle
author_facet Fabian Gendrisch
Birgit Haarhaus
Christoph M. Schempp
Ute Wölfle
author_sort Fabian Gendrisch
collection DOAJ
description Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and a pro-inflammatory milieu in the skin. While patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are treated using targeted therapies (small molecules and monoclonal antibodies), patients suffering from milder forms are still in need of effective topical products without adverse effects. Antimony compounds (ACs) are regularly used as anti-inflammatory compounds in traditional and anthroposophic medicine and as antiprotozoan drugs. Here, we examined the effect of metallic antimony, natural antimony(III) sulfide and potassium antimonyl(III) tartrate in vitro on psoriasis-like keratinocytes and the human dendritic cell line THP-1 using qPCR, immunocytochemistry, ELISA and flow cytometry. In psoriatic keratinocytes, ACs inhibited the overexpression of the antimicrobial peptide β-defensin 2 and glucose transporter 1, as well as the hyperproliferation marker keratin 17. Furthermore, ACs mediated anti-inflammatory effects by reducing nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB and pSTAT3 and inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by keratinocytes. In addition, ACs displayed anti-psoriatic effects by reducing the activation of IFN-α-treated THP-1 cells as well as the expression of the psoriasis-promoting master cytokine IL-23 by these cells. While all ACs showed anti-psoriatic effects, the most prominent results were seen with potassium antimonyl(III) tartrate. In summary, ACs display numerous anti-psoriatic effects in vitro at subtoxic concentrations. We conclude that ACs are interesting compounds for the topical treatment of psoriasis that warrant further investigation in clinical studies.
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spelling doaj.art-eeff5bafbd5f4d02ae2519a028d660f42023-11-22T16:33:03ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-09-012619581410.3390/molecules26195814Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In VitroFabian Gendrisch0Birgit Haarhaus1Christoph M. Schempp2Ute Wölfle3Research Center Skinitial, Department of Dermatology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyResearch Center Skinitial, Department of Dermatology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyResearch Center Skinitial, Department of Dermatology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyResearch Center Skinitial, Department of Dermatology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and a pro-inflammatory milieu in the skin. While patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are treated using targeted therapies (small molecules and monoclonal antibodies), patients suffering from milder forms are still in need of effective topical products without adverse effects. Antimony compounds (ACs) are regularly used as anti-inflammatory compounds in traditional and anthroposophic medicine and as antiprotozoan drugs. Here, we examined the effect of metallic antimony, natural antimony(III) sulfide and potassium antimonyl(III) tartrate in vitro on psoriasis-like keratinocytes and the human dendritic cell line THP-1 using qPCR, immunocytochemistry, ELISA and flow cytometry. In psoriatic keratinocytes, ACs inhibited the overexpression of the antimicrobial peptide β-defensin 2 and glucose transporter 1, as well as the hyperproliferation marker keratin 17. Furthermore, ACs mediated anti-inflammatory effects by reducing nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB and pSTAT3 and inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by keratinocytes. In addition, ACs displayed anti-psoriatic effects by reducing the activation of IFN-α-treated THP-1 cells as well as the expression of the psoriasis-promoting master cytokine IL-23 by these cells. While all ACs showed anti-psoriatic effects, the most prominent results were seen with potassium antimonyl(III) tartrate. In summary, ACs display numerous anti-psoriatic effects in vitro at subtoxic concentrations. We conclude that ACs are interesting compounds for the topical treatment of psoriasis that warrant further investigation in clinical studies.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/19/5814psoriasiskeratinocytesdendritic cellsantimonyinflammation
spellingShingle Fabian Gendrisch
Birgit Haarhaus
Christoph M. Schempp
Ute Wölfle
Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In Vitro
Molecules
psoriasis
keratinocytes
dendritic cells
antimony
inflammation
title Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In Vitro
title_full Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In Vitro
title_fullStr Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In Vitro
title_full_unstemmed Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In Vitro
title_short Anti-Psoriatic Effects of Antimony Compounds In Vitro
title_sort anti psoriatic effects of antimony compounds in vitro
topic psoriasis
keratinocytes
dendritic cells
antimony
inflammation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/19/5814
work_keys_str_mv AT fabiangendrisch antipsoriaticeffectsofantimonycompoundsinvitro
AT birgithaarhaus antipsoriaticeffectsofantimonycompoundsinvitro
AT christophmschempp antipsoriaticeffectsofantimonycompoundsinvitro
AT utewolfle antipsoriaticeffectsofantimonycompoundsinvitro