Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapy

Abstract Heat shock proteins belonging to the HSP90 family promote inflammation and are potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here the effects of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG applied topically were evaluated in a DNCB-induced murine model of atopic dermatitis (AD). The...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Krzysztof Sitko, Ewa Piotrowska, Magdalena Podlacha, Natalia Zagórska, Michał D. Starke, Magdalena Trzeciak, Stefan Tukaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05307-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849238430757683200
author Krzysztof Sitko
Ewa Piotrowska
Magdalena Podlacha
Natalia Zagórska
Michał D. Starke
Magdalena Trzeciak
Stefan Tukaj
author_facet Krzysztof Sitko
Ewa Piotrowska
Magdalena Podlacha
Natalia Zagórska
Michał D. Starke
Magdalena Trzeciak
Stefan Tukaj
author_sort Krzysztof Sitko
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Heat shock proteins belonging to the HSP90 family promote inflammation and are potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here the effects of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG applied topically were evaluated in a DNCB-induced murine model of atopic dermatitis (AD). The use of 17-AAG improved clinical disease activity without causing toxicity in the animals. Topical application of 17-AAG resulted in reduced epidermal hyperplasia, decreased expression of TSLP, IL-5, and IL-6, as well as reduced activation of NF-κB in the skin. In addition, the eosinophil proportion in the blood and eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) activity in the skin were significantly reduced in 17-AAG-treated AD mice. The inhibitory effects of 17-AAG on the production of epidermal alarmins, T-helper cell-associated cytokines, and ROS release were demonstrated in cultures of activated human keratinocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, and eosinophils, respectively. Finally, next-generation sequencing metagenomic approaches revealed that topical application of 17-AAG partially restored the normal gut microbiome in AD mice. Moreover, 17-AAG inhibited Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in vitro. The findings of this study, combined with the observed increase in HSP90 and EPX activity in the leukocytes of the analyzed cohort of AD patients, support the potential therapeutic use of HSP90 inhibitors in individuals with AD.
format Article
id doaj-art-fa7ae1e478df40e39a56446a21591296
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-fa7ae1e478df40e39a56446a215912962025-08-20T04:01:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-05307-3Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapyKrzysztof Sitko0Ewa Piotrowska1Magdalena Podlacha2Natalia Zagórska3Michał D. Starke4Magdalena Trzeciak5Stefan Tukaj6Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of GdańskDepartment of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of GdańskDepartment of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of GdańskDepartment of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of GdańskDepartment of Plant Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of GdańskDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Clinical Center in GdańskDepartment of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of GdańskAbstract Heat shock proteins belonging to the HSP90 family promote inflammation and are potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here the effects of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG applied topically were evaluated in a DNCB-induced murine model of atopic dermatitis (AD). The use of 17-AAG improved clinical disease activity without causing toxicity in the animals. Topical application of 17-AAG resulted in reduced epidermal hyperplasia, decreased expression of TSLP, IL-5, and IL-6, as well as reduced activation of NF-κB in the skin. In addition, the eosinophil proportion in the blood and eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) activity in the skin were significantly reduced in 17-AAG-treated AD mice. The inhibitory effects of 17-AAG on the production of epidermal alarmins, T-helper cell-associated cytokines, and ROS release were demonstrated in cultures of activated human keratinocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, and eosinophils, respectively. Finally, next-generation sequencing metagenomic approaches revealed that topical application of 17-AAG partially restored the normal gut microbiome in AD mice. Moreover, 17-AAG inhibited Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in vitro. The findings of this study, combined with the observed increase in HSP90 and EPX activity in the leukocytes of the analyzed cohort of AD patients, support the potential therapeutic use of HSP90 inhibitors in individuals with AD.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05307-3Heat shock proteinsMouse modelMicrobiotaStaphylococcus aureusEosinophilesKeratinocytes.
spellingShingle Krzysztof Sitko
Ewa Piotrowska
Magdalena Podlacha
Natalia Zagórska
Michał D. Starke
Magdalena Trzeciak
Stefan Tukaj
Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapy
Scientific Reports
Heat shock proteins
Mouse model
Microbiota
Staphylococcus aureus
Eosinophiles
Keratinocytes.
title Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapy
title_full Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapy
title_fullStr Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapy
title_full_unstemmed Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapy
title_short Topical application of the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance: implications for atopic dermatitis therapy
title_sort topical application of the hsp90 inhibitor 17 aag reduces skin inflammation and partially restores microbial balance implications for atopic dermatitis therapy
topic Heat shock proteins
Mouse model
Microbiota
Staphylococcus aureus
Eosinophiles
Keratinocytes.
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05307-3
work_keys_str_mv AT krzysztofsitko topicalapplicationofthehsp90inhibitor17aagreducesskininflammationandpartiallyrestoresmicrobialbalanceimplicationsforatopicdermatitistherapy
AT ewapiotrowska topicalapplicationofthehsp90inhibitor17aagreducesskininflammationandpartiallyrestoresmicrobialbalanceimplicationsforatopicdermatitistherapy
AT magdalenapodlacha topicalapplicationofthehsp90inhibitor17aagreducesskininflammationandpartiallyrestoresmicrobialbalanceimplicationsforatopicdermatitistherapy
AT nataliazagorska topicalapplicationofthehsp90inhibitor17aagreducesskininflammationandpartiallyrestoresmicrobialbalanceimplicationsforatopicdermatitistherapy
AT michałdstarke topicalapplicationofthehsp90inhibitor17aagreducesskininflammationandpartiallyrestoresmicrobialbalanceimplicationsforatopicdermatitistherapy
AT magdalenatrzeciak topicalapplicationofthehsp90inhibitor17aagreducesskininflammationandpartiallyrestoresmicrobialbalanceimplicationsforatopicdermatitistherapy
AT stefantukaj topicalapplicationofthehsp90inhibitor17aagreducesskininflammationandpartiallyrestoresmicrobialbalanceimplicationsforatopicdermatitistherapy