Ann Dermatol.  2016 Apr;28(2):192-198. 10.5021/ad.2016.28.2.192.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Deokgu Thermomineral Water Balneotherapy on Oxazolone-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Murine Model

• Lee YB
• Kim SJ
• Park SM
• Lee KH
• Han HJ
• Yu DS
• Woo SY
• Yun ST
• Hamm SY
• Kim HJ
• Kim JW

• KMID: 2171376
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2016.28.2.192

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Although the therapeutic mechanism of balneotherapy for atopic dermatitis has not been clarified, many atopic patients who visit thermomineral springs have shown clinical improvements.
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of thermomineral water balneotherapy on the atopic dermatitis murine model.
METHODS
The oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis murine model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of balneotherapy with Deokgu thermomineral water compared with distilled water. Histologic evaluation and confocal microscopic imaging were performed to analyze the lesional expression of cluster-of-differentiation (CD)4 and forkhead box p3 (Foxp3). Lesional mRNA expression of interleukin (IL) 33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and Foxp3 was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
Compared with the distilled water bath group, confocal microscopic evaluation of CD4 and Foxp3 merged images showed increased expression of regulatory T cells in the thermomineral balneotherapy group. The lesional mRNA level of IL-33 showed a reduced trend in the thermomineral balneotherapy group, whereas the level of mRNA of Foxp3 was increased. TSLP showed a decreased trend in both distilled water and thermomineral water bath groups. There was a trend of reduced expression in lesional IL-33 mRNA but increased cell count of CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in thermomineral balneotherapy compared with distilled water bath.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, thermomineral balneotherapy can be an effective and safe adjuvant therapeutic option for atopic dermatitis.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Balneotherapy; Dermatitis; Immunomodulation

MeSH Terms

Balneology*
Baths
Cell Count
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Humans
Immunomodulation
Interleukins
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reverse Transcription
RNA, Messenger
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Water*
Interleukins
RNA, Messenger
Water

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Histologic and confocal microscopic evaluation (×40). Cluster-of-differentiation (CD) 4 and forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) were stained green and red, respectively, for confocal microscopic evaluation. The yellow spot in the merged images represented the CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. In the merged image, yellow CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells showed an increased trend in Group 4.

• 

  Fig. 2 mRNA fold expression of interleukin (IL) 33 (A), thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) (B), and forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) (C) in the skin. Although there was no statistical significance among groups (p>0.05), Group 4 showed a decreased trend in lesional mRNA fold expression of IL-33 and TSLP but increased trend in lesional mRNA fold expression of Foxp3.

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