Abstract
Thermal therapy has gained popularity over the years, and Portugal is one of the richest European countries in mineral therapeutic waters. The interest in the use of these natural mineral waters (NMW) for dermatologic purposes is continuously growing but there is a lack of scientific studies supporting its health benefits. The study aims to investigate the effect of a silica-rich NMW in skin cell homeostasis using two representative cell lines of the epidermis and dermis, keratinocytes and fibroblasts, respectively, in addition to a macrophage cell line. Mouse skin fibroblasts, macrophages and human keratinocytes were exposed to culture medium prepared with NMW. Cell metabolism (MTT or resazurin assays) and cell proliferation (trypan blue exclusion dye assay) were investigated. Migration (scratch-wound assay) and senescence (β-galactosidase activity assay) of fibroblasts were also studied. Exposure to NMW compromised the cell metabolic state of all the cell lines tested. This impairment was more pronounced in skin keratinocytes (60% reduction) relatively to skin fibroblasts (45% reduction) or macrophages (25% reduction). Proliferation of macrophages was reduced threefold upon exposure to thermal water, compared to controls. No differences were observed in migration between fibroblasts exposed to NMW and controls, while a potentiation of senescence of these cells was observed. Our results shed light in the bioactive effects of a silica-rich NMW supporting its therapeutic use. A reduction in both cell metabolism and proliferation of keratinocytes and macrophages supports the empirical clinical benefits of this NMW in hyperkeratotic conditions, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Monfortinho Thermal Centre for participating in this study. The authors acknowledge financial support provided by FEDER - European Regional Development Fund, through the POCI-COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization in Axis I - Strengthening research, technological development and innovation (Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491); National Funds by FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology (Project UIDB/00709/2020); and Provere Termas Centro – Projeto Âncora de Inovação, co-funded by Centro 2020, Portugal 2020 and European Union funds (PROVERE CENTRO-04-3928-FEDER-000010).
Funding
POCI-COMPETE 2020- Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization in Axis I - Strengthening research, technological development and innovation (Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491).
FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology (Project UIDB/00709/2020).
Provere Termas Centro – Projeto Âncora de Inovação, co-funded by Centro 2020, Portugal 2020 and European Union funds (PROVERE CENTRO-04-3928-FEDER-000010).
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ASO performed the experiments, assembled and analysed the data, and wrote the manuscript. CVV and AS collaborated in the acquisition and assembly of data and critically revised the manuscript. SC, RF, LB, JMO, RPO and CP contributed to experimental conception and design, and critical reading and editing of the manuscript. MTC and APO contributed to experimental conception and design, data analysis and interpretation and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content.
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Oliveira, A.S., Vaz, C.V., Silva, A. et al. In vitro evaluation of potential benefits of a silica-rich thermal water (Monfortinho Thermal Water) in hyperkeratotic skin conditions. Int J Biometeorol 64, 1957–1968 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-01986-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-01986-x