Page 284 - 2025中醫藥與天然藥物聯合學術研討會-中醫藥與天然藥物的挑戰Ｘ機遇與未來大會手冊

CM-17

The immunomodulatory mechanism of a heat-clearing Traditional Chinese

Medicine topical patch for atopic dermatitis

#,1
Kai-Lun Huang, Hung-Rong Yen, 1,2,3 Ying-Chyi Song ＊ ,3,4

1 School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University,
Taichung, 404328, Taiwan
2 Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung,
404327, Taiwan
3 Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, 404227, Taichung, Taiwan
4 Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical
University, Taichung, 404328, Taiwan
* E-mail: songyingchyi@gmail.com

Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with an imbalance in immune responses, particularly
between Th1 and Th2 cells, leading to excessive inflammation and cytokine production. Our
preclinical observational study found that a Chinese herbal medicine wet wrapping formula
(AD-WW2) significantly improved skin lesions in most patients without adverse effects.
However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In vitro, we treated BMDCs, Raw 264.7
macrophages, P815 mast cells, HaCaT keratinocytes, and skewed Th2/Th17 cells with AD-
WW2. Cytokine levels were measured using ELISA. In vivo, we used an OVA-induced AD
mouse model to assess treatment effects. Jurkat cells were analyzed by western blotting for
pathway activation. AD-WW2 significantly reduced IL-6 and TNF-α in BMDCs, IL-6 in
macrophages, IL-4 and IL-13 in mast cells, IL-6 and IL-8 in keratinocytes, IL-17 in Th17 cells,
and IL-4 in Th2 cells. In mice, AD-WW2 lowered serum total IgE, OVA-specific IgG1, IgG2b,
and IgE. It also reduced CD45⁺ cell infiltration and suppressed IL-4, IL-13, and IL-17
production in CD4⁺ and Th17 cells from skin and lymphoid tissues. Additionally,
phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and NF-κB in Jurkat cells was decreased. These findings suggest
that AD-WW2 exerts anti-inflammatory effects through immune modulation, supporting its
potential as a complementary treatment for AD.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Traditional Chinese Medicine; Immune cells; Cytokine; T
helper cells