French Polynesian Lagoon Water for a Stronger Skin Barrier
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Presented by: Benjamin ROBERT
Introduction
Formed millions of years ago thanks to volcanism and geological phenomenon, French Polynesia is well-known for its island surrounded by turquoise lagoons water. It has been widely demonstrated that high content mineral salts waters could have beneficial properties for human skin. While thermal waters are widely known and used for cosmetic purpose, for sea water only Israeli Dead Sea water has been studied extensively, thus, it could be interesting to investigate the properties of French Polynesian lagoon water which has also a specific mineral composition.
It has been widely demonstrated that the quality of the skin barrier function is a major factor for the skin capacity to face exogenous damages and limit trans-epidermal water loss. At cellular level, this barrier function is the result of different biological processes such as keratinocytes differentiation and cornification.
From basal keratinocytes to superficial corneocytes, several proteins are involved such as transglutaminase K and involucrin participating in the formation of the cornified envelope or filaggrin helping in the formation of the corneocyte matrix and involved in the production of Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) in the skin. Tight junction proteins such as Claudin-1 also plays a role in the cohesion of the stratum corneum by ensuring the sealing between corneocytes1.
Objective: To assess if French Polynesia high mineral salts content water might improve keratinocyte differentiation and cohesion, as compared to CaCl2.
Methods: Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) were inoculated in culture medium in a 96-well plate during different times according to the biological marker observed. After this first incubation time, the Keratinocyte serum free medium supplemented was replaced with the serum free medium reconstituted with the high mineral salts content water and cells were incubated during a second period differing according to the biological marker observed. In parallel, a positive control was also prepared including NHEK in classical Keratinocytes growth factor culture medium stimulated by CaCl2.
At the end of incubation time, cells were rinsed, fixed, permeabilized and then labelled with specific antibodies which were then revealed using a fluorescent secondary antibody (ref. A11001, GAM-Alexa 488, Invitrogen). The image acquisition was performed using an INCell AnalyzerTM 2200 (GE Healthcare, x20 objective lens) and the fluorescent intensity was quantified and then normalized to the total number of cells (Developer toolbox 1.5, GE Healthcare software).
Results: French Polynesia high mineral salts content water culture medium significantly stimulated the production of keratinocytes differentiation proteins after 72h, particularly transglutaminase (on average 578% of the negative control), Involucrin (on average 389% of the negative control) and filaggrin (on average 1006% of the negative control).
Claudin-1 production, a protein involved in the keratinocyte cohesion was also stimulated after 72h by the treatment with French Polynesia high mineral salts content water culture medium (on average 411% of the negative control).
Conclusion: The high mineral salts content water stimulates the production of keratinocytes differentiation and cohesion proteins. This action will lead to the reinforcement of the skin barrier function.
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1 KIRSCHNER N., et al. Ann NY Acad Sc. 2012, Jun 1257:158-166
Formed millions of years ago thanks to volcanism and geological phenomenon, French Polynesia is well-known for its island surrounded by turquoise lagoons water. It has been widely demonstrated that high content mineral salts waters could have beneficial properties for human skin. While thermal waters are widely known and used for cosmetic purpose, for sea water only Israeli Dead Sea water has been studied extensively, thus, it could be interesting to investigate the properties of French Polynesian lagoon water which has also a specific mineral composition.
It has been widely demonstrated that the quality of the skin barrier function is a major factor for the skin capacity to face exogenous damages and limit trans-epidermal water loss. At cellular level, this barrier function is the result of different biological processes such as keratinocytes differentiation and cornification.
From basal keratinocytes to superficial corneocytes, several proteins are involved such as transglutaminase K and involucrin participating in the formation of the cornified envelope or filaggrin helping in the formation of the corneocyte matrix and involved in the production of Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) in the skin. Tight junction proteins such as Claudin-1 also plays a role in the cohesion of the stratum corneum by ensuring the sealing between corneocytes1.
Objective: To assess if French Polynesia high mineral salts content water might improve keratinocyte differentiation and cohesion, as compared to CaCl2.
Methods: Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) were inoculated in culture medium in a 96-well plate during different times according to the biological marker observed. After this first incubation time, the Keratinocyte serum free medium supplemented was replaced with the serum free medium reconstituted with the high mineral salts content water and cells were incubated during a second period differing according to the biological marker observed. In parallel, a positive control was also prepared including NHEK in classical Keratinocytes growth factor culture medium stimulated by CaCl2.
At the end of incubation time, cells were rinsed, fixed, permeabilized and then labelled with specific antibodies which were then revealed using a fluorescent secondary antibody (ref. A11001, GAM-Alexa 488, Invitrogen). The image acquisition was performed using an INCell AnalyzerTM 2200 (GE Healthcare, x20 objective lens) and the fluorescent intensity was quantified and then normalized to the total number of cells (Developer toolbox 1.5, GE Healthcare software).
Results: French Polynesia high mineral salts content water culture medium significantly stimulated the production of keratinocytes differentiation proteins after 72h, particularly transglutaminase (on average 578% of the negative control), Involucrin (on average 389% of the negative control) and filaggrin (on average 1006% of the negative control).
Claudin-1 production, a protein involved in the keratinocyte cohesion was also stimulated after 72h by the treatment with French Polynesia high mineral salts content water culture medium (on average 411% of the negative control).
Conclusion: The high mineral salts content water stimulates the production of keratinocytes differentiation and cohesion proteins. This action will lead to the reinforcement of the skin barrier function.
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1 KIRSCHNER N., et al. Ann NY Acad Sc. 2012, Jun 1257:158-166