Abstract: Objective〖HTSS〗To investigate the effect of taraxasterol on the level of inflammatory factors and morphology of thymus in acne model mice through transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smad pathway.
〖WTHZ〗Methods〖HTSS〗C57BL/6 mice were divided into: control group(group A), model group(group B), taraxasterol low-dose group(group C), taraxasterol high-dose group(group D). The ear changes of mice in each group were observed; hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of ear tissue and thymus tissue of mice in each group. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and IL-8 in the serum of mice in each group. Immunohistochemical was used to detect of the expression rate of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) positive cells in the ear tissues of mice in each group. Western blot was used to detect the expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and Smad3 protein in the ear tissue of mice in each group.
〖WTHZ〗Results〖HTSS〗Compared with group B, group C and group D reduced the ear swelling, redness and erythema, dry and rough texture of acne mice, and the ear thickness was significantly reduced(P＜0.05). After taraxasterol treatment by gavage, the inflammation in acne mice was effectively alleviated, and the number of infiltrating inflammatory cells was significantly reduced, and the thickening of the epidermis was also reduced. Compared with group B group, group C and group D increased thymic cortical thickness mice acne and lymphocytes(both P＜0.05); Taraxasterol significantly reduced the level of expression of IL-1β and IL-8 of mouse serum(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), and the ear tissues of mice TNF-α expression is reduced(P＜0.05). Compared with group B, group C and group D down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 protein in mouse ear tissues(both P＜0.05).
〖WTHZ〗Conclusion〖HTSS〗Taraxasterol had a good therapeutic effect on mouse auricular acne model, regulates the expression of inflammatory factors and improves the morphology of mouse thymus, which may be related to TGF-β/Smad pathway.

Key words: acne vulgaris, sterols, transforming growth factor beta1