Imperatorin Alleviates Psoriasiform Dermatitis by Blocking Neutrophil Respiratory Burst, Adhesion, and Chemotaxis through Selective Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibition

Yung Fong Tsai, Chun Yu Chen, I. Wen Lin, Yann Lii Leu, Shun Chin Yang, Yu Ting Syu, Po Jen Chen, Tsong Long Hwang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim: Neutrophil infiltration and increased oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis and severity of psoriasis. Although the therapy of psoriasis remains elusive, targeting treatment to reduce oxidative stress is considered a potential option. Our study demonstrates the anti-inflammatory effects of a natural furocoumarin, imperatorin, on activated human neutrophils and psoriasiform dermatitis in mice. Results: Imperatorin inhibited superoxide anion generation, neutrophil adhesion, and migration in N-formyl-l-methionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine (fMLF)-stimulated human neutrophils. Further studies showed that imperatorin induced a decrease in cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, and increased intracellular cAMP levels and protein kinase A (PKA) activity in human neutrophils. The enzyme activities of PDE4 subtypes, but not PDE3 and PDE7, were inhibited by imperatorin. Furthermore, imperatorin inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), as well as Ca2+ mobilization in fMLF-stimulated neutrophils. These suppressive effects of imperatorin on cell responses and signaling were reversed by PKA inhibitor, suggesting that cAMP/PKA is involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of imperatorin. In vivo studies of imiquimod- and interleukin-23-induced mouse psoriasiform dermatitis demonstrated that imperatorin alleviated skin desquamation, epidermal thickening, keratinocyte hyperproliferation, and neutrophil infiltration. Innovation and Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that imperatorin inhibits human neutrophil respiratory burst, adhesion, and migration through the elevation of cAMP/PKA to inhibit Akt, ERK, JNK, and Ca2+ mobilization. Imperatorin is a natural inhibitor of PDE4A/B/C and may serve as a lead for developing new therapeutics to treat neutrophilic psoriasis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 35, 885-903.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)885-903
Number of pages19
JournalAntioxidants and Redox Signaling
Volume35
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 10 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2021.

Keywords

  • PDE4 inhibitor
  • imperatorin
  • neutrophil
  • psoriasis
  • superoxide anion

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