Suppressive effect of 1,4-anhydro-4-seleno-D-talitol (SeTal) on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice through regulation of inflammatory mediators

•SeTal attenuated atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in mice.•Cutaneous severity and scratching behavior were reduced by SeTal treatment.•SeTal decreased edema, cytokine levels and myeloperoxidase activity.•SeTal increased collagen fibers and young fibroblasts in the dermal layers.•SeTal effects were similar or better than current hydrocortisone treatment. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease that affects ∼20 % of children and 3% of adults globally and is generally treated by the topical application of steroidal drugs that have undesirable side-effects. The development of alternative therapies is therefore an important objective. The present study investigated the effects of topical treatment with a novel water-soluble selenium-containing carbohydrate derivative (4-anhydro-4-seleno-D-tatitol, SeTal) on the symptoms and inflammatory parameters in an AD mouse model. Mice were sensitized by applying 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to their dorsal skin on days 1–3, then further challenged on their ears and dorsal skin on days 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, and 29. SeTal (1 and 2%) or hydrocortisone (1%) was applied topically to the backs of the mice from days 14–29, and skin severity scores and scratching behavior determined on day 30. The mice were euthanized, and their ears and dorsal skin removed to quantify inflammatory parameters, edema, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and AD-associated cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (IL)-18, and IL-33). DNCB treatment induced skin lesions and increased the scratching behavior, ear edema, MPO activity (ear and dorsal skin), and cytokine levels in dorsal skin. Topical application of SeTal improved inflammatory markers (cytokine levels and MPO activity), cutaneous severity scores, and scratching behavior. The efficacy of SeTal was satisfactory in the analyzed parameters, showing similar or better results than hydrocortisone. SeTal appears to be therapeutically advantageous for the treatment and control of AD.