Calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate synergistically enhances the balance between regulatory and proinflammatory T cells in a murine psoriasis model.

A topical medication combining calcipotriol (Cal) and betamethasone dipropionate (BDP) has proven effective in a number of randomized controlled trials performed in patients with psoriasis, but its mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. We investigated whether the combination of Cal and BDP (Cal/BDP) in this topical medication had a synergistic effect on psoriasis-like dermatitis and explored the underlying immunological mechanisms in a murine psoriasis model induced by application of imiquimod. Cal/BDP synergistically inhibited ear thickening induced by imiquimod compared to monotherapy with either Cal or BDP.

Low systemic exposure and calcemic effect of calcipotriol/betamethasone ointment in rats with imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis.

Vitamin D (VD) analogues-containing ointments are known to occasionally cause hypercalcemia in psoriasis patients, and the frequency of hypercalcemia is suggested to vary based on the VD analogue used. In this study, to address the differences in calcemic effects of VD-containing ointments, the calcemic effects of marketed VD-containing ointments, including calcipotriol (Cal), maxacalcitol (Max), tacalcitol (Tac), calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BDP) and maxacalcitol/betamethasone butyrate propionate (Max/BBP) ointments, were evaluated in a rat model of imiquimod-induced dermatitis. The topical application of Tac, Max and Max/BBP ointments, but not Cal and Cal/BDP ointments, to the imiquimod-induced skin lesions significantly induced an increase in the serum calcium level compared with the vaseline-treated group.

Calcium effects and systemic exposure of vitamin D3 analogues after topical treatment of active vitamin D3-containing ointments in rats.

Topical agents containing vitamin D3 (VD3) analogues such as calcipotriol, maxacalcitol and tacalcitol and the combination of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (betamethasone) are prescribed for patients with psoriasis. However, they are known to occasionally cause hypercalcemia, and the frequency of hypercalcemia is suggested to vary according to the VD3 analogue used. In this study, to address the reason for these differences, the calcemic effects of maxacalcitol-, calcipotriol- and calcipotriol/betamethasone-containing ointments in rats were evaluated.