Inhibitory Effects of aSargassum miyabeiYendo onCutibacterium acnes-Induced Skin Inflammation

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory condition of skin sebaceous follicles. To explore its effects on acne vulgaris, we investigated the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities ofSargassum miyabeiYendo (a brown alga) ethanolic extract (SMYEE) onCutibacterium acnes(C. acnes)-stimulated inflammatory responses, both in vivo and in vitro. To induce inflammation in vivo,C. acneswas intradermally injected into the dorsal skin of mice, to which SMYEE was applied. The antimicrobial activity of SMYEE was evaluated by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). To explore in vitro anti-inflammatory effects, HaCaT cells were stimulated withC. acnesafter treatment with SMYEE. The levels of IL-8 and the underlying molecular effects inC. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Mouse skin lesions improved after treatment with SMYEE (50 mu g/mouse). Neutrophil infiltration was significantly reduced in SMYEE-treated compared to SMYEE-untreated skin lesions. SMYEE reversed theC. acnes-induced increase in IL-8 levels in HaCaT cells and suppressed dHL-60 cell migration. SMYEE also inhibitedC. acnes-induced phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and inhibited activator protein-1 signaling. SMYEE may be a useful treatment forC. acnes-induced acne vulgaris.