{
  "abstract": "Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease driven by dysregulation of IL-17-mediated immune responses. Current topical therapies, including corticosteroids, are limited by long-term side effects, creating demand for safer alternatives. DH-YH is a novel four-herb Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula derived from Duhuo Jisheng Tang, comprising Angelica pubescens , Gentiana macrophylla , Taxillus chinensis , and Paeonia lactiflora . Based on an initial clinical observation of improvement following topical DH-YH treatment in a patient with psoriasis, this study investigated its immunomodulatory effects in psoriasis-related models.\n\nMethods: The anti-inflammatory effects of DH-YH were assessed in vitro using IL-17A-stimulated human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and LPS-activated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and RAW264.7 macrophages. The effects on T-cell polarization were evaluated in murine splenic CD4 ⁺ T cells differentiated toward Th1, Th2, and Th17 lineages. In vivo , an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model (BALB/c, n = 5/group) was used to evaluate topical DH-YH ointment. Skin histopathology (H&E staining) and multi-organ flow cytometric analysis (skin, spleen, and lymph nodes) were performed to assess epidermal thickness, inflammatory infiltration, and immune cell subset frequencies.\n\nResults: Topical DH-YH ointment markedly improved psoriatic lesions in a clinical case without hepatorenal toxicity. In vitro , DH-YH dose-dependently suppressed IL-8 secretion in IL-17A-stimulated HaCaT cells and inhibited TNF-α and IL-6 production in LPS-activated BMDCs. DH-YH also significantly reduced Th17 and Th2 cell differentiation without affecting cell viability. In the IMQ-induced mouse model, topical DH-YH significantly reduced epidermal thickness and dermal inflammatory cell infiltration. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that DH-YH specifically decreased the proportions of CD45 ⁺ , CD3 ⁺ , γδT, and γδT17 cells in lesional skin.\n\nConclusion: DH-YH attenuates psoriasis-related inflammatory responses across multiple cellular and immune components, including keratinocyte inflammatory responses, BMDC cytokine production, T helper cell differentiation, and γδT17 cell accumulation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Chinese Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital",
    "Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University",
    "School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University",
    "Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital",
    "Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University",
    "Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital",
    "Office of Research and Development, Asia University",
    "Department of Clinical Research Center of Integrated Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital",
    "Department of Cosmeceutics, China Medical University",
    "Drug Development Research Unit, Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital",
    "Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chun-Yao Cheng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ping Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Dao-Syuan Wu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3,
        4,
        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Hung-Rong Yen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Mei-Yun Chu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Shu-Cheng Tseng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        8,
        9
      ],
      "name": "Chia-Lin Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Chuan-Teng Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        3,
        4,
        10
      ],
      "name": "Ying-Chyi Song"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0m5p2zvqkaxw8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1957818",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "0m5p2zvqkaxw8",
  "issns": [
    "1663-9812"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1957818/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224109651",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1957818/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0m5p2zvqkaxw8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:06Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1957818",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1957818/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2403|Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A four-herb topical formula attenuates psoriasis-like skin inflammation by suppressing IL-17-mediated inflammation and pathogenic γδT17 cell infiltration",
  "title_text": "A four-herb topical formula attenuates psoriasis-like skin inflammation by suppressing IL-17-mediated inflammation and pathogenic γδT17 cell infiltration",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:06Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0m5p2zvqkaxw8",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Pharmacology",
  "versions": []
}