Caraway extract alleviates atopic dermatitis by regulating oxidative stress,suppressing Th2 cells,and upregulating Th1 cells in mice

Objective:To explore the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of caraway on atopic dermatitis(AD)in mice.Methods:AD was induced in two stages,including sensitization and challenge with the application of 2,4 dinitrochlorobenzene 2% and 0.2%,respectively.Clinical symptoms and histological analysis of the skin were assessed.The effects of caraway on oxidant/antioxidant parameters as well as Th1-and Th2-related cytokines were also evaluated.Results:Caraway reduced the severity of dermatitis in AD-induced mice,as evidenced by significant inhibition of Th2-related cytokines(IL-4 and IL-13)and increased Th1-related cytokine(IFN-γ).Additionally,treatment with caraway significantly increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity and decreased the malondialdehyde level in the serum of AD mice.Furthermore,caraway inhibited the differentiation of Th2 cells while favoring Th1 cell differentiation in the spleen via regulating their master transcription factors GATA3 and T-bet.Conclusions:Caraway could improve AD autoimmune responses and could be considered a potential candidate to treat AD disease.

Interplays of liver fibrosis-associated microRNAs:Molecular mechanisms and implications in diagnosis and therapy

microRNAs(miRNAs)are a class of non-coding functional small RNA composed of 21e23 nucleotides,having multiple associations with liver fibrosis.Fibrosis-associated miRNAs are roughly classified into pro-fibrosis or anti-fibrosis types.The former is capable of activating hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)by modulating pro-fibrotic signaling pathways,mainly including TGF-b/SMAD,WNT/b-catenin,and Hedgehog;the latter is responsible for maintenance of the quiescent phenotype of normal HSCs,phenotypic reversion of activated HSCs(aHSCs),inhibition of HSCs proliferation and suppression of the extracellular matrix-associated gene expression.Moreover,several miRNAs are involved in regulation of liver fibrosis via alternative mechanisms,such as interacting between hepatocytes and other liver cells via exosomes and increasing autophagy of aHSCs.Thus,understanding the role of these miRNAs may provide new avenues for the development of novel interventions against hepatic fibrosis.