The macrophage polarization in inflammatory dermatosis and its potential drug candidates

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2023-05, Vol.161, p.114469-114469, Article 114469
• Main Authors: Sun, Qingru, Hu, Shiyu, Lou, Zhaohuan, Gao, Jianli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Inflammatory Agents - metabolism; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Dermatitis - drug therapy; Humans; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammatory dermatosis; Macrophage polarization; Macrophages - metabolism; Natural medicine; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Skin; Traditional Chinese medicine
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114469

Inflammatory dermatosis is characterized by persistent inflammatory infiltration and hard repair of diseased skin. As a member of the human innate immune cells, macrophages usually show different phenotypes in different diseases. The macrophage phenotype (M1/M2) imbalance caused by the increase of M1 macrophages or the decrease of M2 macrophages is common in inflammatory dermatosis. In recent years, with the deepening research on inflammatory skin diseases, more and more natural medicines/traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), represented by Shikonin and Angelica Dahurica, have shown their therapeutic effects by affecting the polarization of macrophages. This review introduced macrophage polarization in different inflammatory dermatosis, such as psoriasis. Then summarized the natural medicines/TCMs that have potential therapeutic effects so far and introduced their mechanisms of action and the proteins/signal pathways involved. We found that the TCMs with therapeutic effects listed in this review are closely related to the theory of five flavors and four properties of Chinese medicinal, and most of them are bitter, acrid and sweet. Bitter TCMs have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, which may improve the persistent inflammation of M1 macrophage infiltration. Acrid TCMs have the effect of promoting blood circulation, while sweet TCMs have the effect of nourishing. These 2 flavors may accelerate the repair of skin lesions of inflammatory dermatosis by affecting M2 macrophages. In conclusion, we hope to provide sufficient knowledge for natural medicine research and the development of inflammatory dermatosis related to macrophage phenotype imbalance. [Display omitted] •This review summarized the characteristics of macrophage polarization and the role of each phenotype.•This review summarized the changes of macrophage phenotype in inflammatory dermatosis.•This review summarized the natural medicine and traditional Chinese medicines that have potential therapeutic effects on macrophage polarization-related inflammatory dermatosis.