Curcumol attenuates hyperproliferation and inflammatory response in a psoriatic HaCaT keratinocyte model by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt pathway and ameliorates skin lesions and inflammatory status in psoriasis-like mice

  • Inflammopharmacology. 2025 Mar 10. doi: 10.1007/s10787-025-01708-y.
Mutian Niu  #  1  2 Xiaolong Li  #  1  2 Mingzhao Li  1  2 Fangru Chen  3 Hui Cao  4 Qingbo Liu  1 Bin Liang  1 Guangyu Pan  1  2 Chengqin Liang  5 Jintao Gao  6  7
Affiliations
  • 1. School of Intelligent Medicine and Biotechnology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
  • 2. Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Engineering, Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, 541199, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
  • 3. Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
  • 4. Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
  • 5. School of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 6. School of Intelligent Medicine and Biotechnology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, Guangxi, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 7. Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Engineering, Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, 541199, Guangxi, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disorder, is characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation and inflammatory responses. Curcumol, a bioactive terpenoid, possesses antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluates the efficacy of curcumol in treating psoriasis in both in vitro and in vivo models. In vitro, curcumol inhibits hyperproliferation and inflammatory responses in a psoriatic HaCaT keratinocyte model stimulated by M5 cytokines by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt pathway. Additionally, in vivo, curcumol ameliorates psoriasis-like skin lesions and inflammatory status in imiquimod-induced mice. Network pharmacology revealed that curcumol's beneficial effects might involve the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Further investigation shows that curcumol partially counteracts the activation of PI3K-Akt by recilisib in keratinocytes. These results suggest that curcumol may be a promising therapeutic option for psoriasis.

Keywords
Curcumol; Inflammation; Keratinocytes; Proliferation; Psoriasis.
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