title: Topically delivered dissolved oxygen reduces inflammation and positively influences structural proteins in healthy intact human skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As oxygen is essential for wound healing and there is limited diffusion across the stratum corneum into the epidermis, we wanted to evaluate whether the topical delivery of a total dissolved oxygen in dressing form on intact human subject skin would improve clinical and histologic skin functioning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Fifty normal, healthy subjects completed a pilot clinical evaluation to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a dissolved oxygen dressing (OxygeneSys™-Continuous) to improve the health and appearance of intact skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical analysis was performed on 50 subjects; histological and gene expression analysis was performed on 12 of the 50 subjects to assess the effect of the dissolved oxygen dressing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical data demonstrate that the dressing is well tolerated, and several measures of skin health and integrity showed improvements compared with a control dressing site. Skin hydration measurements showed a statistically significant increase in skin hydration at 0-4, 4-8, and 0-8 weeks (P < 0.05 at each time point). The blinded clinical investigator's grading of desquamation, roughness, and skin texture show significant decreases from baseline to the 8-week time point (P < 0.05). The dressings were removed prior to the blinded clinical investigator's grading. These data were supported by the histological and gene expression studies, which showed a general reduction in inflammatory response markers and transcription products (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, MMP-1, and MMP-12), while facilitating a general increase in structural skin proteins (collagen I, elastin, and filaggrin). Additionally, p53 signals from biopsy samples support the clinical investigator's observations of no safety concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data from this study demonstrate that the dressing has no deleterious effects and stimulates beneficial effects on intact, nonwounded skin.
authors.affiliation: Development Engineering Sciences, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA. rskellar@des-company.com
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kellar
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Audet
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rheins
authors.forename: Zoe Diana
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Draelos
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D051400:Aquaporin 3 / Q000032:analysis; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D004549:Elastin / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C496027:AQP3 protein, human; D024042:Collagen Type I; C000717249:FLG protein, human; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051400:Aquaporin 3; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D004549:Elastin; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D003849:Deoxyguanosine; D010100:Oxygen