Inhibition of PDE4 by apremilast attenuates skin fibrosis through directly suppressing activation of M1 and T cells.

ABSTRACT: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a life-threatening chronic connective tissue disease with the characteristics of skin fibrosis, vascular injury, and inflammatory infiltrations. Though inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) has been turned out to be an effective strategy in suppressing inflammation through promoting the accumulation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), little is known about the functional modes of inhibiting PDE4 by apremilast on the process of SSc. The present research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanism of apremilast on SSc. Herein, we found that apremilast could markedly ameliorate the pathological manifestations of SSc, including skin dermal thickness, deposition of collagens, and increased expression of α-SMA. Further

SUBMITTER: Lu QK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8791980 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature