Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sacran: Novel Sulfated Polysaccharide as Anti-Allergic Skincare Biomaterial for Atopic Dermatitis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Occupational and Environmental Skin Disorders

  • 560 Accesses

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin disease characterized by inflammation, pruritus, and chronic or relapsing eczematous lesions. AD negatively affects quality of life for both patients with AD and their caregivers. We conducted a review of the literature on the beneficial effects of sacran on allergic skin diseases using published biochemical, experimental, and clinical reports. Sacran is a marine alga-derived glycosaminoglycan-like sulfated polysaccharide; it is extracted from the Japanese indigenous cyanobacterium Aphanothece sacrum, which is mass-aquacultured in rivers with a high ionic concentration and possesses plenty of a jelly-like extracellular matrix with high water content (97.5–98.3%). Sacran is a heteropolysaccharide composed of various sugar residues (galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose, rhamnose, fucose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid) and contains traces of alanine, galactosamine, uronic acids (these uronic acids have yet to be determined chemically), and muramic acid; 11% of the monosaccharides contain a sulfate group, and 22% of them contain a carboxyl group. Our previous studies have shown that topical sacran markedly reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in dry skin human subjects and displayed similar anti-allergic effects than hydrocortisone and tacrolimus in animal experiments. Moreover, our recent clinical studies showed that topical sacran significantly decreased the severity of AD skin lesions, itch, and sleep disorder in AD patients within 4 weeks of topical treatment. Taken together, findings from these studies suggest that topical sacran may serve as an alternative adjuvant and therapeutic anti-allergic agent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

AD:

Atopic dermatitis

CD:

Cluster of differentiation

CS:

Chondroitin sulfate

DNFB:

2,4-Dinitro-1-fluorobenzene

FLG:

Filaggrin

IFN-γ:

Interferon gamma

IL:

Interleukin

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

PD:

Prednisolone

TEWL:

Transepidermal water loss

TNCB:

2,4,6-Trinitrochlorobenzene

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor alpha

References

  • Amano W, Nakajima S, Kunugi H, et al. The Janus kinase inhibitor JTE-052 improves skin barrier function through suppressing signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;136:667–77, e667.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ananthi S, Raghavendran HR, Sunil AG, et al. In vitro antioxidant and in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of crude polysaccharide from Turbinaria ornata (Marine Brown Alga). Food Chem Toxicol. 2010;48:187–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Averbeck M, Gebhardt CA, Voight S, et al. Differential regulation of hyaluronan metabolism in the epidermal and dermal compartments of human skin by UVB irradiation. J Invest Dermatol. 2007;127:687–97.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernfield M, Gotte M, Park PW, et al. Functions of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Annu Rev Biochem. 1999;68:729–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choi HK, Cho YH, Lee EO, et al. Phytosphingosine enhances moisture level in human skin barrier through stimulation of the filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to NMF formation. Arch Dermatol Res. 2017;309(10):795–803.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fukushima S, Motoyama K, Tanida Y, et al. Clinical evaluation of novel natural polysaccharides Sacran as a skincare material for atopic dermatitis patients. J Cosmet Dermatological Sci Appl. 2016;6:9–18.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gu H, Huang L, Wong YP, Burd A. HA modulation of epidermal morphogenesis in an organotypic keratinocyte-fibroblast co-culture model. Exp Dermatol. 2010;19:e336–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hanifin JM. Evolving concepts of pathogenesis in atopic dermatitis and other eczemas. J Invest Dermatol. 2009;129:320–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hengge UR, Ruzicka T, Schwartz RA, Cork MJ. Adverse effects of topical glucocorticosteroids. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54:1–15; quiz 16-18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Homey B, Steinhoff M, Ruzicka T, Leung DY. Cytokines and chemokines orchestrate atopic skin inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;118:178–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jin H, He R, Oyoshi M, Geha RS. Animal models of atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 2009;129:31–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kawashima H, Atarashi K, Hirose M, et al. Oversulfated chondroitin/dermatan sulfates containing GlcAb1/IdoAa1-3GalNAc(4,6-O-disulfate) interact with L- and P-selectin and chemokines. J Biol Chem. 2002;277:12921–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim BE, Howell MD, Guttman-Yassky E, et al. TNF-α downregulates filaggrin and loricrin through c-Jun N-terminal kinase: role for TNF-α antagonists to improve skin barrier. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(6):1272–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kuschert GS, Coulin F, Power CA, et al. Glycosaminoglycans interact selectively with chemokines and modulate receptor binding and cellular responses. Biochemistry. 1999;38:12959–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mizuno K, Morizane S, Takiguchi T, et al. Dexamethasone but not tacrolimus suppresses TNF-α-induced thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression in lesional keratinocytes of atopic dermatitis. Dermatol Sci. 2015;80(1):45–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ngatu NR, Okajima MK, Yokogawa M, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of sacran, a novel polysaccharide from Aphanothece sacrum, on 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene-induced allergic dermatitis in vivo. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2012;108:117–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ngatu NR, Hirota R, Okajima MK, et al. Sacran, a skin barrier enhancer, improves atopic and contact eczema: case repot. Ann Phytomed. 2015;4(1):111–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngatu NR, Tanaka M, Okajima MK, et al. Anti-allergic effects and immunomodulatory activity of sacran, a bioactive compound from river alga aphanothece sacrum. Evid Based Med Public Health. 2016;e1438:2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okajima MK, Bamba T, Kaneso Y, et al. Supergiant ampholytic sugar chains with imbalanced charge ratio form saline ultra-absorbent hydrogels. Macromolecules. 2008;41:4061–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okajima MK, Kaneko D, Mitsumata T, et al. Cyanobacteria that produce megamolecules with efficient self-orientations. Macromolecules. 2009a;42:3057–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okajima MK, Miyazato S, Kaneko T. Cyanobacterial megamolecule sacran efficiently forms LC gels with very heavy metal ions. Langmuir. 2009b;25:8526–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okajima MK, Higashi T, Asakawa R, et al. Gelation behavior by the lanthanoid adsorption of the cyanobacterial extracellular polysaccharide. Biomacromolecules. 2010a;11:3172–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okajima MK, Nakamura M, Mitsumata T, Kaneko T. Cyanobacterial polysaccharide gels with efficient rare-earth-metal sorption. Biomacromolecules. 2010b;11:1773–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Otsuka A, Doi H, Egawa G, et al. Possible new therapeutic strategy to regulate atopic dermatitis through upregulation of filaggrin expression. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(1):139–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oyoshi MK, Larson RP, Ziegler SF, et al. Mechanical injury polarizes skin dendritic cells to elicit a T(H)2 response by inducing cutaneous thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;126:976–84, 984.e1-5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Parish CR. The role of heparan sulphate in inflammation. Nat Rev Immunol. 2006;6:633–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park HY, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan through inhibition of NF-kappaB, MAPK and Akt activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV2 microglia cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011;49:1745–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salmivirta M, Lidholt K, Lindahl U. Heparan sulfate: a piece of information. FASEB J. 1996;10:1270–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schoepe S, Schacke H, May E, Asadullah K. Glucocorticoid therapy-induced skin atrophy. Exp Dermatol. 2006;15:406–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seldin DC, Adelman S, Austen KF, et al. Homology of the rat basophilic leukemia cell and the rat mucosal mast cell. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985;82:3871–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Silverberg NB, Silverberg JI. Inside out or outside in: does atopic dermatitis disrupt barrier function or does disruption of barrier function trigger atopic dermatitis? Cutis. 2015;96(6):359–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan M, Silverberg NB. Current and emerging concepts in atopic dermatitis pathogenesis. Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(4):349–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor KR, Gallo RL. Glycosaminoglycans and their proteoglycans:host-associated molecular patterns for initiation and modulation of inflammation. FASEB J. 2006;20:9–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visscher MO, Adam R, Brink S, et al. Newborn infant skin: physiology, development, and care. Clin Dermatol. 2015;33:271–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volpi N. Therapeutic applications of glycosaminoglycans. Curr Med Chem. 2006;13:1799–810.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada S, Sugahara K. Potential therapeutic application of chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate. Curr Drug Discov Technol. 2008;5:289–301.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita H, Tasaki D, Makino T, et al. The role of IgE and repeated challenge in the induction of persistent increases in scratching behavior in a mouse model of allergic dermatitis. Eur J Pharmacol. 2009;605:153–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yanase Y, Hiragun T, Uchida K, et al. Peritoneal injection of fucoidan suppresses the increase of plasma IgE induced by OVA-sensitization. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009;387:435–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

    Keiichi Motoyama Ph.D., Taishi Higashi PhD. & Hidetoshi Arima PhD.

  2. Graduate School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare (IUHW), Chiba, Japan

    Nlandu Roger Ngatu M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Graduate School of Public Health, International University of Health and Welfare (IUHW), Tokyo, Japan

    Nlandu Roger Ngatu M.D., Ph.D.

  4. School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Nomi, Japan

    Maiko Kaneko Okajima PhD. & Tatsuo Kaneko PhD.

  5. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan

    Yasumitsu Nishimura PhD.

Authors
  1. Keiichi Motoyama Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Taishi Higashi PhD.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nlandu Roger Ngatu M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maiko Kaneko Okajima PhD.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yasumitsu Nishimura PhD.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hidetoshi Arima PhD.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Tatsuo Kaneko PhD.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keiichi Motoyama Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare (IUHW), Chiba, Japan

    Nlandu Roger Ngatu

  2. Graduate School of Nursing, and Wellness and Longevity Center, University of Kochi, Kochi, Japan

    Mitsunori Ikeda

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Motoyama, K. et al. (2018). Sacran: Novel Sulfated Polysaccharide as Anti-Allergic Skincare Biomaterial for Atopic Dermatitis. In: Ngatu, N., Ikeda, M. (eds) Occupational and Environmental Skin Disorders. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8758-5_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8758-5_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-8757-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-8758-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation