Improvement Effect of Chushi Weiling Tang on Skin Lesions of Psoriasis Model Mice by Modulating AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effect of Chushi Weiling Tang on skin lesions of psoriasis model mice by modulating AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

METHODS  In this study, BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, psoriasis model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose Chushi Weiling Tang groups, and high-dose Chushi Weiling Tang+SC79 group. And the psoriasis model was constructed by applying 5% imiquimod cream. After intervention with Chushi Weiling Tang and AKT activator SC79, the scratching behavior, skin thickening, and skin lesion symptoms were detected. Meanwhile, HE staining was used to test the pathological morphology of skin tissue, and the skin epidermal thickness was compared. Masson staining was used to measure the proportion of collagen fibers in the skin tissue. ELISA was used to measure serum inflammatory factors. In addition, Western blotting was used to detect AKT/mTOR signaling pathway proteins in the skin tissues of mice.

RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the psoriasis model group had higher scratching frequency, skin thickness, psoriasis area and severity index(PASI), skin epidermal thickness, proportion of collagen fibers in skin tissues, levels of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 in serum, and p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR in skin tissues (P<0.05). Compared with the psoriasis model group, the low-, medium-, and high-dose Chushi Weiling Tang groups had lower scratching frequency, skin thickness, PASI, skin epidermal thickness, proportion of collagen fibers in skin tissues, levels of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 in serum, and p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR in skin tissues (P<0.05), in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, compared with the high-dose Chushi Weiling Tang group, the high-dose Chushi Weiling Tang+SC79 group had higher scratching frequency, skin thickness, PASI, skin epidermal thickness, proportion of collagen fibers in skin tissues, levels of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 in serum, and p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR in skin tissues (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION Chushi Weiling Tang can alleviate inflammation and skin lesion symptoms in psoriasis model mice by suppressing AKT/mTOR signaling activation.