Aim of the study
This research aimed to estimate impact of the octahydroindoline alkaloid Homocrepidine A (HCA), isolated from D. crepidatum, on acne inflammation using both human THP-1 cells and mouse models. Furthermore, the potential anti-inflammatory mechanism of HCA has been analyzed through molecular biology
Conclusions
Our research highlights the protective effects of D. crepidatum and its bioactive compound HCA against acne inflammation, marking the first exploration of its potential in this context. The discoveries indicate that HCA treatment may represent a promising functional approach for acne therapy.
Methods
THP-1 cells and mouse models induced by live Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) were employed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of crude extract of D. crepidatum (DCE) and HCA. ELISA was utilized to detect the release of inflammatory cytokines in both cellular and murine ear tissues. RNAseq was used to screen the pathways associated with HCA-mediated inflammatory inhibition, while Western blot, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence were utilized to detect the expression of relevant proteins. Additionally, molecular docking simulations and cellular thermal shift assays were employed to confirm the target of HCA.
Results
Our research shows that DCE and HCA can effectively alleviate acne inflammation. HCA inhibits TLR2 expression by interacting with amino acid residues in the TIR domain of hTLR2, including Pro-681, Asn-688, Trp-684, and Ile-685. Moreover, HCA disrupts inflammatory signal transduction mediated by MAPK and NF-κB pathways through MyD88-dependent pathway. Additionally, HCA treatment facilitates Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulates HO-1 expression, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes activation. In vivo experiments further revealed that HCA markedly attenuated erythema and swelling caused by P. acnes in mice ears, while also decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8. Conclusions: Our research highlights the protective effects of D. crepidatum and its bioactive compound HCA against acne inflammation, marking the first exploration of its potential in this context. The discoveries indicate that HCA treatment may represent a promising functional approach for acne therapy.