Epalrestat, an AKR1B10 Inhibitor, ameliorates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasiform Dermatitis and Modulates Inflammatory Pathways in Mice

This study investigates the therapeutic potential of repurposing Epalrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor currently used for diabetic neuropathy, as a novel treatment for psoriasis. Guided by bioinformatic analysis that identified AKR1B10 as a highly expressed gene in psoriatic lesions, we evaluated the efficacy of topical Epalrestat formulations in an imiquimod-induced mouse model. The research combines computational data mining with experimental validation to demonstrate that Epalrestat significantly ameliorates dermatitis symptoms, reducing epidermal thickening and systemic inflammation. This work underscores the link between metabolic dysregulation and skin inflammation, offering a strategy to accelerate clinical treatment options through drug repurposing.