Therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of a solubilized Sturgeon oil in a mouse model of house dust mite-induced atopic dermatitis

Abstract The therapeutic effect and action mechanism of solubilized Sturgeon oil (SSO) against atopic dermatitis (AD) were examined in NC/Nga mice. SSO was prepared from the fish oil obtained from Sturgeons using physical solubilization processes. AD was induced by topical application of house dust mite (HDM) extract on the dorsal skin of NC/Nga mice, and then treated with SSO. SSO exerted potent therapeutic activity on AD symptoms. Histological analysis revealed that SSO reduced epidermal hyperplasia and suppressed infiltration of mast cells and eosinophils in the dorsal skin. In addition, SSO significantly reduced the serum total IgE and HDM-specific IgE levels in AD-induced NC/Nga mice. Analysis of the dorsal skin tissues showed that SSO significantly downregulated the expression levels of IL-4, 5, 13, 17A and COX-2, while upregulated the expression levels of IL-10 and filaggrin. In vitro studies also showed that SSO suppressed the production of Th2 cytokines including IL-4, 5 and 13, while increasing the production of IL-10, from anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated Th2 cells. These results show that SSO exerts therapeutic effect on AD in NC/Nga mice through Th2-related immunomodulatory activities.