Anthralin is an anthrone inhibitor of keratinocyte proliferation and a modulator of differentiation.1 It increases apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of normal human keratinocytes (NHKs) when used at a concentration of 2.5 μM. It also decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential, increases cytochrome c release, and induces perinuclear mitochondrial clustering in NHKs when used at a concentration of 5 μM.2 Anthralin (0.25 μM) decreases the expression of β-defensin-2 and S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) and increases the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in IL-17A- and IL-22-stimulated NHKs.1 It also inhibits leukotriene B4 production, stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187 , from human neutrophils (IC50 = 7 μM).3 Topical anthralin (0.1%) induces hair regrowth in a Dundee experimental bald rat (DEBR) model of alopecia areata.4
1.Holstein, J., Fehrenbacher, B., Brück, J., et al.Anthralin modulates the expression pattern of cytokeratins and antimicrobial peptides by psoriatic keratinocytesJ. Dermatol. Sci.87(3)236-245(2017) 2.McGill, A., Frank, A., Emmett, N., et al.The anti-psoriatic drug anthralin accumulates in keratinocyte mitochondria, dissipates mitochondrial membrane potential, and induces apoptosis through a pathway dependent on respiratory competent mitochondriaFASEB J.19(8)1012-1014(2005) 3.Schr?der, J.M.Anthralin (1,8-dihydroxyanthrone) is a potent inhibitor of leukotriene production and LTB4-ω oxidation by human neutrophilsJ. Invest. Dermatol.87(5)624-629(1986) 4.Tang, L., Sundberg, J.P., Liu, H., et al.Old wine in new bottles: Reviving old therapies for alopecia areata using rodent modelsJ. Invest. Dermatol. Symp. Proc.8(2)212-216(2003)