Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms and Therapeutics in Skin Models

Skin inflammation underlies a wide array of dermatological conditions, from acute irritant reactions to chronic disorders such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Central to this process is disruption of the epidermal barrier, activation of keratinocytes and resident immune cells, and recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes. Key intracellular pathways—most notably nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, JAK/STAT signalling and the Nrf2 antioxidant response—drive the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (for example TNF-α and IL-1β), chemokines and lipid mediators. Experimental platforms span in vitro three-dimensional skin equivalents and ex vivo human biopsies to in vivo rodent models of ear or paw oedema. Therapeutic strategies include small-molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, topical botanicals, hybrid synthetic-natural derivatives and advanced delivery systems such as nanoparticles or lipid vesicles. By targeting oxidative stress, cytokine networks, leukocyte extravasation and barrier repair, these interventions aim to alleviate symptoms, restore homeostasis and ultimately translate into new treatments for inflammatory skin disease.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have interrogated the synergistic interplay of phytochemicals in a classic skin-inflammation model. Orthogonal and uniform-design methods were employed to optimise combinations of scopoletin, esculetin and hesperetin isolated from a n-butanol extract of a medicinal plant. When applied topically in a croton oil-induced mouse ear oedema model, the optimised mixture produced a pronounced reduction in prostaglandin E₂ release and ear swelling at low doses. Mechanistic evaluation revealed concurrent inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase activity and downstream inflammatory signalling, illustrating the potential of computational design to refine multi-component botanical therapies for cutaneous inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms and Therapeutics in Skin Models publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory mechanisms and therapeutics in skin models across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

NF-κB: Transcription factor controlling expression of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO): Enzyme marker of neutrophil activity and oxidative stress in inflamed tissue.

Keratinocyte: Epidermal cell type vital for barrier function and cytokine release in skin inflammation.

Oedema: Localised swelling due to fluid accumulation, characteristic of acute inflammation.

Cytokine: Small signalling protein that regulates immune and inflammatory responses.

MAPK: Intracellular signalling cascade modulating cellular responses to pro-inflammatory stimuli.

References

1. Synergistic Effect of Compounds from a Chinese Herb: Compatibility and Dose Optimization of Compounds from N-Butanol Extract of Ipomoea stolonifera. Scientific Reports (2016).
2. A Patent-Pending Ointment Containing Extracts of Five Different Plants Showed Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms in Preclinical Studies. Pharmaceutics (2024).
3. Evidence of Bioactive Compounds from Vernonia polyanthes Leaves with Topical Anti-Inflammatory Potential. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2016).
4. Phytochemical Analysis by HPLC–HRESI-MS and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Tabernaemontana catharinensis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018).