Background:
Sulforaphane, which is found in cruciferous vegetables, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and antitumour activities. However, whether
sulforaphane has
therapeutic effects on inflammatory or autoimmune
skin diseases, including
psoriasis and
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is unclear. Methods: The
therapeutic effects of
sulforaphane were analyzed in
Imiquimod (IMQ)-induced
psoriasis-like mice and lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. In IMQ-induced
psoriasis-like mice treated with
sulforaphane (55.3 and 110.6 μmol/kg) or vehicle control, the pathological phenotypes were assessed by the
psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score, haematoxylin-
eosin staining (H&E) and quantifying of acanthosis and dermal inflammatory cell infiltration. The proportions of T cell subsets in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) and spleens were examined by flow cytometry. In MRL/lpr mice treated with
sulforaphane (82.9 μmol/kg) or vehicle control, mortality and
proteinuria were observed, and the glomerular pathology was examined by H&E staining. C3 and
IgG depositions in kidney sections were examined by immunofluorescence staining. The proportions of plasma cells, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, neutrophils and dendritic cells in the dLNs and spleens were examined by flow cytometry. Finally, we examined the
Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration by
thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay and the expression of Prdx1, Nqo1, Hmox1, and Gss by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results:
Sulforaphane ameliorated the skin lesions in IMQ-induced
psoriasis-like mice and the renal damage in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. In IMQ-induced
psoriasis-like mice,
sulforaphane reduced the proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells and increased the expression of
antioxidant gene Prdx1. In lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice,
sulforaphane increased the lifespan and the expression of Prdx1, and decreased the proportions of plasma cells, Tfh cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in the dLNs and spleens and the concentration of MDA. Conclusion:
Sulforaphane has significant
therapeutic effects on IMQ-induced
psoriasis-like mice and lupus-like MRL/Lpr mice by reducing inflammatory and autoimmune-related cells and oxidative stress. These findings provide new evidence for developing natural products to treat inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases.