Ann Dermatol.  2015 Dec;27(6):709-714. 10.5021/ad.2015.27.6.709.

Impact of Different Spa Waters on Inflammation Parameters in Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells

• Zoller N
• Valesky E
• Hofmann M
• Bereiter-Hahn J
• Bernd A
• Kaufmann R
• Meissner M
• Kippenberger S

• KMID: 2157447
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2015.27.6.709

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The treatment of different skin conditions with spa waters is a long tradition dating back to at least late Hellenism. Interestingly, independent scientific examinations studying the effect of spa waters are scarce.
OBJECTIVE
In the present in vitro study, we compared the effect of culture media supplemented with (a) thermal spa waters (La Roche-Posay, Avene) and (b) two natural mineral drinking waters (Heppinger, Adelholzener) on physiological parameters in HaCaT keratinocytes.
METHODS
The different medium preparations were investigated with regard to cell proliferation and cell damage. Moreover, the impact on inflammation parameters with and without ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation was examined.
RESULTS
Two popular thermal spring waters were found to suppress cell proliferation and cell damage. Moreover, these waters reversed the induction of interleukin-6, as measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and promoter transactivation, and the formation of reactive oxygen species after UVB stimulation. Of note, the two natural mineral waters, which are distributed as drinking waters, had some effect on the above-mentioned parameters but to a lesser extent.
CONCLUSION
In summary, our results show that spa waters, and particularly those derived from thermal springs, reduce parameters associated with inflammation. It seems likely that trace elements such as selenium and zinc are critical for the observed effects.

Keyword

Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Keratinocytes; Reactive oxygen species; Spa water; Thermal spring water

MeSH Terms

Cell Proliferation
Culture Media
Drinking
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans*
Inflammation*
Interleukin-6
Keratinocytes*
Mineral Waters
Reactive Oxygen Species
Selenium
Skin
Trace Elements
Transcriptional Activation
Water*
Zinc
Culture Media
Interleukin-6
Mineral Waters
Reactive Oxygen Species
Selenium
Trace Elements
Water
Zinc

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effect of spa water-supplemented medium on DNA synthesis and membrane integrity. Human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) were cultured in regular medium (control) or in medium supplemented with 72% spa water from different sources. After 24 h, (A) the incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the DNA and (B) the amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in supernatants were detected as described in "Materials and Methods." The complete release of LDH was achieved by treatment with 1% Triton X-100. Each bar represents the mean of 18 (A) and 24 (B) independent experiments. Standard deviations are indicated. Data were compared to untreated controls. Heppinger: Apollinaris, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany. Adelholzener: St. Primus Heilwasser, Bad Adelholzen, Germany. La Roche-Posay: L'Oréal, Clichy, France. Avène: Pierre Fabre, Paris, France. Triton X-100: Merck, Darmstadt, Germany.

• 

  Fig. 2 Effect of spa water supplementation on inflammation parameters in human keratinocytes. (A) Irradiated (black bars) and non-irradiated (white bars) cells were held for 24 h in medium supplemented with 72% spa waters as described. In cell-free supernatants, the amount of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A treatment with betamethasone-17-valerate served as a positive control. (B) Cells transfected with an IL-6 promoter-based luciferase construct were irradiated or non-irradiated. After 24 h, luciferase activity was measured. Transfection efficacy was controlled by co-transfection with a humanized Renilla luciferase vector (phRL; Promega, Mannheim, Germany). (C) The formation of reactive oxygen species was measured in DHR 123 (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany)-loaded cells treated with UVB, as described above. Vitamin C served as a positive control. Each bar represents the mean of 4 (A), 4 (B), and 8 (C) independent experiments. Standard deviations are indicated. Data were compared to that for untreated (asterisks) or irradiated (hash signs) controls. DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide, BMV: betamethasone-17-valerate. Heppinger: Apollinaris, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany. Adelholzener: St. Primus Heilwasser, Bad Adelholzen, Germany. La Roche-Posay: L'Oréal, Clichy, France. Avène: Pierre Fabre, Paris, France.

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