Effects of topical isoxsuprine ointment on imiquimod-induced psoriasiform skin inflammation in mice.

This study assesses the potential positive impact of a 0.05% isoxsuprine ointment on psoriasiform skin inflammation generated by imiquimod in mouse models. Thirty-two male albino mice were allocated into four groups: the control group (which received topical emollients twice daily for 16 days), the induction group (which received imiquimod cream (5%) for 8 days, twice daily followed by petrolatum gel (15%) for another 8 days), and the other two groups, which received imiquimod cream (5%) for 8 days followed by either clobetasol ointment (0.05%) or isoxsuprine ointment (0.05%) twice daily for an additional 8 days. At the end of the experiment, mice were sacrificed by ethical standards, and levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-23, and VEGF were measured; PASI and Backer's score were examined, in addition to the histopathology of skin tissue. Each clobetasol and isoxsuprine group displayed a significant reduction in tissue homogenate levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-23, and VEGF, besides increments in IL-10 compared to the induction group. Some markers (IL-17A, IL23, and VEGF) showed no significant difference between clobetasol and the isoxsuprine group. In contrast, the other markers (TNF-α, IL6, and IL10) showed significant differences between clobetasol and isoxsuprine groups. Isoxsuprine ointment showed comparable efficacy to clobetasol ointment in treating imiquimod-induced psoriasiform skin inflammation in mice models, probably due to its possible effect of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities.