Human Epidermal Growth Factor Improves Atopic Disease-like Skin Lesions in DFE/DNCB Induced BALB/c Mice and Human Keratinocytes

PURPOSE: Atopic skin disease is an inflammatory disease with a multifactorial pathogenesis that presents as itchy, dry skin. Human epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an essential role in regulating cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the effects of EGF on atopic diseases.METHODS: Atopic disease was induced by the Dermatophagoides farinae house dust mite extract and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into the following five atopic disease induction and treatment groups: control, atopic disease only, atopic disease+epidermal growth factor-1, atopic disease+epidermal growth factor-10, and positive control atopic disease+ceramide. We examined dermal and epidermal ear thickness, mast cell and T cell infiltration, serum immunoglobulin E and immunoglobulin G2a levels, and mRNA expression of pathogenic cytokines in murine ear tissue and human keratinocyte cells.RESULTS: Epidermal growth factor treatment increased epidermal and dermal ear thickness and inhibited mast and T cell infiltration in the ear in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment also suppressed immunoglobulin E and G2a levels and the mRNA expression of pathogenic cytokines in murine ear tissue and human keratinocytes. The therapeutic outcome of epidermal growth factor was stronger than that of the positive control ceramide.CONCLUSIONS: EGF may be beneficial in the treatment of atopic disease. Key words: Epidermal growth factor, Atopic disease, Keratinocyte cells, Cytokine