Inhibition of mast cell infiltration in an LL-37-induced rosacea mouse model using topical brimonidine tartrate 0.33% gel.
Kim. Miri M; Kim. Jongsic J; Jeong. Seo-Won SW; Jo. Hyunmu H; Woo. Yu Ri YR; Park. Hyun Jeong HJ
Key Findings
- Brimonidine gel reduced visible rosacea symptoms in LL-37‑treated mice
- Mast cell numbers in the skin dropped markedly after brimonidine treatment
- mRNA levels of mast‑cell enzymes that were raised by LL‑37 were lowered by the gel
Practical Outcomes
- For people dealing with rosacea, using a brimonidine 0.33% gel may provide both cosmetic and anti‑inflammatory benefits by targeting mast cells. While the data are from mice, the findings support the existing FDA‑approved use and hint that the drug’s effect goes beyond vasoconstriction, which could be useful for those seeking more comprehensive skin health strategies.
Summary
A study in mice showed that a skin gel containing brimonidine (a drug already approved for rosacea) not only improves the visible redness but also cuts down the number of mast cells, a type of immune cell that drives inflammation in rosacea. This suggests the gel works by calming the immune response, not just by tightening blood vessels.
Abstract
Brimonidine is a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist approved by the FDA for the treatment of rosacea. Rosacea is a major clinical disease with vasodilatation and rash on the centre of the face, and that brimonidine as a vasoconstrictor can act as a remedy for rosacea. However, there is no study of how brimonidine has an effect on rosacea-related immune cells or mechanisms in the skin to improve rosacea. In this study, we observed that clinical features of rosacea induced by LL-37 in Balb/c mice were improved after the application of brimonidine gel, and we also showed a marked decrease in the number of inflammatory cells, especially mast cells (MCs) histologically. Furthermore, we confirmed that mRNA levels of MC enzymes increased by LL-37 were reduced by brimonidine gel. To our knowledge, we first found that brimonidine has a mechanism of treating rosacea by reducing the number and mRNA levels of MC-specific enzymes, an important immune cell in the pathogenesis of rosacea.
Study Information
pubmed
2017
2017-08-15T00:00:00.000Z
10.1111/exd.13381
26
9