Fragility of the epidermis, a common pathophysiological mechanism of acne vulgaris, rosacea and reactive skin involving inflammasome activation

Purpose of the study: The objective of this study was to review the recent evidence regarding the pathophysiology of reactive skin, acne vulgaris and rosacea, with a focus on the link between the impaired skin barrier and the inflammasome. In this context, we evaluated the activity of Rhealba ® oat plantlet extract on the inflammasome in vitro . Procedures: Using an in vitro inflammatory model of Reconstructed Human Epidermis (RHE), we explored the biologically active mature forms of inflammasome products, IL-1b and IL-18 cytokines, in parallel with inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, VEGF-A, MIP-1a/CCL3, sICAM-1. Results: We showed that a 2-h pre-treatment with Rhealba ® oat plantlet extract with Vitamin E and A-DERMA cream for reactive skin significantly blocked poly I:C-induced up-regulation of inflammasome cytokines and inflammatory mediators, as we observed IL18, IL6, IL8, TNFa, VEGF-A, MIP-1a, sICAM-1 down-regulation, along with a significant reduction of IL1-b. Conclusions and message of the paper: We propose that reactive skin, rosacea and acne share skin barrier and innate immunity dysfunctions. Moreover, the results suggest that Rhealba ® Oat plantlet extract provides an adapted solution for the treatment of reactive skin, and probably for the other skin disorders involving inflammasome pathway activation.