Maggot alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice by inhibiting immune stress and complement activation

doi:10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2024.11.08

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To explore the therapeutic mechanism of maggot for psoriasis-like lesions in mice from the perspective of immune stress and complement activation regulation. Methods Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, maggot (1.25%, 2.5%, and 5%) groups, and Benvitimod (1%) group. Psoriasis-like lesions were induced by application of imiquimod cream, and the severity of skin lesions was assessed using the modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (MPASI) score. Auricular swelling of the mice was observed, and histopathological changes of the skin lesions were examined with HE staining. Scratching behavior of the mice was observed and the spleen index was calculated. Toluidine blue staining was used to detect mast cells in the skin lesions, and serum levels of IgG, IgM, the complements CH50, C1s, C3, C3a, C5 and C5a, and the inflammatory factors IL-23, IL-17A and TNF-α were determined with ELISA. Results In mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions, treatment with the maggot at the 3 doses significantly decreased MPASI score, alleviated auricular swelling and pathologies in the skin lesions, reduced scratching behaviors, spleen index, and the number of mast cells in the lesions. Treatment with high-dose maggot significantly lowered serum levels of IgG, C1s, C3a, C5a, IL-23, IL-17A and TNF-α and the levels of C1s, C3, C3a, C5 and C5a in the lesion tissue, and increased serum levels of CH50, C3, and C5. The therapeutic effect of maggot showed a dose-effect dependence. Conclusion Maggot can alleviate psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice by inhibiting immune stress and complement activation.

Key words: maggot, psoriasis, immune stress, complement activation, inflammatory response

Hong YAO, Kedi LIU, Chengzhao LIU, Weihong LI, Qi DAI, Shi ZHAO, Ziheng DING, Hefei WANG, Xiaojing GE, Peifeng WEI, Jialin DUAN, Miaomiao XI. Maggot alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice by inhibiting immune stress and complement activation[J]. Journal of Southern Medical University, 2024, 44(11): 2121-2130.

Figures/Tables 10

Tab.1 Psoriasis area and severity index in mice (MPASI)

Score	Severity	Erythema (E)	Infitration (I)	Desquamation (D)	Area of psoriatic involvement (%)
0	None	No erythema	No infitration	No scales	0
1	Slight	Slight erythema	The injured skin is slightly raised.	Some of the injured skin is covered with fine scales.	<10
2	Moderate	Moderate erythema	The injured skin is moderately raised, and the edge of the plaque is round or sloping.	Most of the injured skin is completely or incompletely covered with flaky scales.	10-29
3	Marked	Striking erythema	The injured skin is markedly raised and thickened.	Almost all of the injured skin is covered with thick and layered scales.	30-49
4	Very marked	Exceptionally striking erythema	The injured skin is very markedly raised and thickened.	All of the injured skin is covered with very thick and layered scales.	50-69
5	-	-	-	-	70-89
6	-	-	-	-	90-100

Fig.1 Effect of maggot MPASI score in psoriasis (PSO) mice. A: Skin lesions on day 1 and day 9 in the groups. B: Maggot significantly decreased MPASI score in PSO mice (Mean±SD, n=6). ***P<0.001 vs Control group; ###P<0.001 vs Model group.

Fig.2 Effect of maggot on thickness of swelling auricle in PSO mice. A: Skin lesions in the right (shown on the left) and left ear (on the right) in mice. B: Maggot significantly decreased the auricle swelling thickness in PSO mice (Mean±SD, n=6). ***P<0.001 vs Control group; #P<0.05, ###P<0.001 vs Model group.

Fig.3 Effect of maggot on histopathological changes in PSO mice. A: Maggot significantly improved pathological changes of back skin lesions in PSO mice (Scale bar=50 μm). B: Maggot significantly improved pathological changes in right ear lesions in PSO mice (Scale bar=100 μm).

Fig.4 Maggot significantly decreased the number of scratching of PSO mice (Mean±SD, n=6). ***P<0.001 vs Control group; ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001 vs Model group.

Fig.5 Effect of maggot on spleen index in PSO mice. A: Comparison of mice spleen. B: Maggot significantly decreased the spleen index in PSO mice (Mean±SD, n=6). ***P<0.001 vs Control group; ###P<0.001 vs Model group.

Fig.6 Effect of maggot on the number of mast cells in PSO mice. A: Toluidine blue staining of dorsal skin lesions in mice (Scale bar=50 μm). B: Maggot significantly decreased the number of mast cells in PSO mice (Mean±SD, n=6). ***P<0.001 vs Control group; ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001 vs Model group.

Fig.7 Effect of maggot on serum levels of IgG (A) and IgM (B) in PSO mice (Mean±SD, n=6). ***P<0.001 vs Control group; ##P<0.01 vs Model group.

Fig.8 Effect of maggot on levels of complements in PSO mice （Mean±SD, n=6）. A-F： Serum levels of CH50, C3, C5, C1s, C3a and C5a. G-K： C1s, C3, C3a, C5 and C5a contents in the skin tissue. *P<0.05, ***P<0.001vs Control group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001 vs Model group.

Fig.9 Effect of maggot on serum levels IL-23 (A), IL-17A (B) and TNF-α (C) in PSO mice (Mean±SD, n=6). **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 vs Control group; #P<0.05, ###P<0.001 vs Model group.

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