Omiganan Enhances Imiquimod‐Induced Inflammatory Responses in Skin of Healthy Volunteers

• Published in: Clinical and translational science 2020-05, Vol.13 (3), p.573-579
• Main Authors: Niemeyer‐van der Kolk, Tessa, Assil, Salma, Buters, Thomas P., Rijsbergen, Melanie, Klaassen, Erica S., Feiss, Gary, Florencia, Edwin, Prens, Errol P., Burggraaf, Jacobus, Doorn, Martijn B.A., Rissmann, Robert, Moerland, Matthijs
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antimicrobial agents; Antiviral drugs; Biopsy; CD14 antigen; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; Cloning; Cytokines; Disease; Drug dosages; Erythema; Human papillomavirus; Imiquimod; Immune system; Inflammation; Interferon; Interferon regulatory factor; Laboratories; Ligands; Neutrophils; NF-κB protein; Perfusion; Photography; Psoriasis; Skin diseases; TLR7 protein; Toll-like receptors; Warts
• ISSN: 1752-8054; 1752-8062
• DOI: 10.1111/cts.12741

Omiganan (OMN; a synthetic cationic peptide) and imiquimod (IMQ; a TLR7 agonist) have synergistic effects on interferon responses in vitro. The objective of this study was to translate this to a human model for proof‐of‐concept, and to explore the potential of OMN add‐on treatment for viral skin diseases. Sixteen healthy volunteers received topical IMQ, OMN, or a combination of both for up to 4 days on tape‐stripped skin. Skin inflammation was quantified by laser speckle contrast imaging and 2D photography, and molecular and cellular responses were analyzed in biopsies. IMQ treatment induced an inflammatory response of the skin. Co‐treatment with OMN enhanced this inflammatory response to IMQ, with increases in perfusion (+17.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.6%–30%; P