Testing steroid-induced changes related to skin atrophy

We are very pleased to announce that our first publication presenting, in particular, the use of our ex vivo human skin model NativeSkin® came out in July in Archives of Dermatological Research. The paper focus on steroid-induced changes related to skin atrophy and the interest of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate fixed-combination gel to prevent steroid-induced reduction of dermal extracellular matrix components.

Ex vivo human skin model NativeSkin® interest for repeated topical application of complex formulations

In this study, we demonstrated the advantage to use the ex vivo human skin model NativeSkin® for 6 daily repeated topical applications of steroid and non steroid formulations, and the possibility to investigate by immunofluorescence consecutive changes in markers expression including Collagen 1, Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2).

 

Below is the abstract of this publication:

 

 

Arch Dermatol Res. 2014 Jul 16.

Calcipotriol counteracts betamethasone-induced decrease in extracellular matrix components related to skin atrophy.

Abstract

The calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate fixed-combination gel is widely used for topical treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. It has been hypothesized that calcipotriol counteracts glucocorticoid-induced skin atrophy which is associated with changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). To elucidate the combined effects of calcipotriol and betamethasone on key ECM components, a comparative study to the respective mono-treatments was carried out. The effect on collagen I synthesis, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion, and hyaluronic acid (HA) production was investigated in primary human fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures as well as in a human skin explant model. We show that calcipotriol counteracts betamethasone-induced suppression of collagen I synthesis. Similarly, calcipotriol and betamethasone have opposing effects on MMP expression in both fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Moreover, calcipotriol is able to restore betamethasone-impaired HA synthesis in keratinocytes and prevent betamethasone-induced epidermal thinning in minipigs upon treatment with the calcipotriol/betamethasone gel. In summary, our results show for the first time in primary human skin cultures that calcipotriol reduces early signs of betamethasone-induced skin atrophy by modulation of key ECM components. These results indicate that the calcipotriol component of the fixed-combination gel counteracts the atrophogenic effects of betamethasone on the skin.

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