Topical application of a phospholipid mixture purified from pig lungs ameliorates 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced allergic contact dermatitis in BALB/c mice.

This work was designed to assess the pharmacological effectiveness as a novel anti-atopic dermatitis remedy of a phopholipid mixture purified from pig lung tissues, named KT&G101, using the BALB/c mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis was induced by applying 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) epicutaneously onto the dorsal skins of mice, and KT&G101 was topically applied onto the skin areas with the lesions. The topical application of KT&G101 (0.05 ml of 10 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml KT&G101, twice a day for 15 days) decreased the total IgE level elevated in the sera of mice undergoing allergic contact dermatitis. KT&G101 was also able to decrease the 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-specific IgE level elevated in the sera of the model mice. It reduced the incidences of scratching behaviors in the mice undergoing DNFB-induced allergic contact dermatitis. It attenuated some histopathological changes, such as pustule, epidermal hyperplasia, dermatitis and fibroplasia, while it could enhance the recovery of epidermis, in the damaged skin tissues within a relatively short period after the topical application of KT&G101. KT&G101 lessened the expression of cytokines mRNAs, such as Th1-specific IL-2, TNF-β and IFN-γ, and Th2-specific IL-4, in the mouse skin tissues showing the lesions. In brief, it is concluded that KT&G101 alleviates the symptoms involved in induced allergic contact dermatitis in BALB/c mice.