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Topical calcitriol restores the impairment of epidermal permeability and antimicrobial barriers induced by corticosteroids
Article first published online: 10 MAR 2010
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09760.x
© 2010 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2010 British Association of Dermatologists
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How to Cite
Hong, S., Oh, Y., Jung, M., Lee, S., Jeon, H., Cho, M.-Y., Lee, S. and Choi, E. (2010), Topical calcitriol restores the impairment of epidermal permeability and antimicrobial barriers induced by corticosteroids. British Journal of Dermatology, 162: 1251–1260. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09760.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 20 MAY 2010
- Article first published online: 10 MAR 2010
- Accepted for publication 1 February 2010
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Keywords:
- antimicrobial peptide;
- calcitriol;
- corticosteroids;
- epidermal permeability barrier;
- vitamin D3
Summary
Background The active form of vitamin D3, calcitriol, is widely used for the treatment of psoriasis, with or without topical corticosteroids. Topical corticosteroids are known to disrupt permeability and antimicrobial barriers, even with short-term use. Yet, the effect of topical calcitriol on epidermal permeability and antimicrobial barriers disrupted by topical corticosteroids has not been determined.
Objectives To examine the effect of calcitriol on epidermal permeability and antimicrobial barrier function that has been impaired by corticosteroids, as well as to elucidate the mechanism of improvement.
Material and methods Topical calcitriol or the control vehicle was applied to each flank of hairless mice 20 min after treatment with topical clobetasol propionate and repeated every 12 h for 3·5 days. Barrier function assessment, Nile red staining, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction studies were performed 24 h after the last application.
Results Epidermis co-treated with topical calcitriol showed an improvement of stratum corneum integrity and barrier recovery, more intense fluorescence staining with Nile red, and an increase in lamellar body (LB) maturation and density, as well as upregulation of major epidermal lipid synthesis-related enzymes (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA, serine-palmitoyl transferase and fatty acid synthase), mouse beta-defensin 3, cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide and vitamin D receptor.
Conclusions We found that topical calcitriol restored both the epidermal permeability and antimicrobial barrier that had been impaired by corticosteroids. This restoration was mediated by both an activation of the cutaneous vitamin D pathway and an increase of epidermal lipids and antimicrobial peptides, promoted by the formation of the LB and the activity of epidermal lipid synthesis-related enzymes.