In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of hyaluronic acid in ethanol-induced damage in skin cells.
Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is commonly applied in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations, as well as disinfectant for chronic wounds.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to appraise physiological levels of ethanol-induced damage in skin cells in vitro and the possible repair by hyaluronic acid (HA). In addition, we aimed to establish cytokine-chemokine networks in the cellular media and the modulation of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-B), interferon-alpha (IFN-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B), interleukins (IL) such as IL1-B and IL-6, as well as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP).


METHODS
We treated human A431 epidermoid skin cells and mouse fibroblasts with ethanol at a concentration of 100 mM over 24 hours (h). A separate experiment looked at the effects of 2 consecutive treatments with 100 mM ethanol for 24 h each. HA obtained from umbilical cord excision was used at two concentration levels (2% and 4%) to determine its efficacy in the treatment. We measured cytotoxicity and cytokine networks in the media.


RESULTS
Treatment of cells with 100 mM ethanol increased cytotoxicity, as well as the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines into the culture medium.


CONCLUSIONS
Ethanol may induce cytotoxicity in skin cells by enhancing the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines. HA reduced the amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines released into the media both in human A431 epidermoid skin cells and in mouse fibroblasts.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. manuela.neuman@utoronto.ca
Manuela G
MG
Neuman
Radu M
RM
Nanau
Loida
L
Oruña
Gabriel
G
Coto
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D013997:Time Factors; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D000431:Ethanol; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases