Figure 4.

The effects of hyperforin/HP-β-CD treatment on the Ca²⁺dynamics in the epidermis of atopic skin ex vivo. The epidermis was detached from the dermis by dispase treatment and fixed on a stretch chamber with intradermal needles. The fluorescence of the Ca²⁺ indicator, Fluo-8AM, was observed with a laser confocal microscope (left image panels) and the changes in intensity in several cells were plotted in the right panels. (a) The Ca²⁺ oscillation and the Ca²⁺ response to stretch stimulation (20%, 1 s, transient) in the epidermis of normal skin ex vivo. Frequent Ca²⁺ oscillation and a large Ca²⁺ response to stretching and subsequent Ca²⁺ waves were prominent (see also Movie S3). (b) In the atopic epidermis, little Ca²⁺ oscillation and a very weak Ca²⁺ response to stretching were observed (see also Movie S4). (c) The 24 h treatment of atopic skin with hyperforin/HP-β-CD drastically induced autonomous Ca²⁺ oscillation and led to a transient, long-lasting Ca²⁺ increase induced by stretching (see also Movie S5).