Anti-dermatitis effects of oak wood vinegar on the DNCB-induced contact hypersensitivity via STAT3 suppression

Abstract

Aims of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-dermatitis effects of oak wood vinegar (OWV) in a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced contact dermatitis mice model.

Materials and methods: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) production, infiltration of immune cells (neutrophils, CD3+ cells), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, skin thickness, and expression of phosphorylated STAT3 (signal transducers and activators of transcription 3) protein were tested in a DNCB-induced contact dermatitis model. In vitro wound healing and proliferative assays were also performed.

Results: OWV showed anti-inflammatory effects on DNCB-induced dermatitis in mice, leading to inhibition of IgE production, immune cell infiltration, and iNOS expression. Skin thickness and the level of phospho-STAT3 were dramatically reduced by OWV. Using the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line, we confirmed that constitutive STAT3 activation induced faster proliferation of epithelial cells. In addition, OWV suppressed HaCaT proliferative ability and phospho-STAT3 levels.

Conclusions: The study revealed that OWV has anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects in a DNCB-induced contact dermatitis mice model. Furthermore, we showed that the mechanism by which OWV most likely inhibits epithelial proliferation is through STAT3 inactivation.