title: Carbonate ion-enriched hot spring water promotes skin wound healing in nude rats.
abstract: Hot spring or hot spa bathing (Onsen) is a traditional therapy for the treatment of certain ailments. There is a common belief that hot spring bathing has therapeutic effects for wound healing, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To examine this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of Nagano hot spring water (rich in carbonate ion, 42°C) on the healing process of the skin using a nude rat skin wound model. We found that hot spring bathing led to an enhanced healing speed compared to both the unbathed and hot-water (42°C) control groups. Histologically, the hot spring water group showed increased vessel density and reduced inflammatory cells in the granulation tissue of the wound area. Real-time RT-PCR analysis along with zymography revealed that the wound area of the hot spring water group exhibited a higher expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 compared to the two other control groups. Furthermore, we found that the enhanced wound healing process induced by the carbonate ion-enriched hot spring water was mediated by thermal insulation and moisture maintenance. Our results provide the evidence that carbonate ion-enriched hot spring water is beneficial for the treatment of skin wounds.
authors: School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Basic Medicine and Nosography, Nagano College of Nursing, Komagane, Japan.
authors: Jingyan
authors: J
authors: Liang
authors: Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
authors: Dedong
authors: D
authors: Kang
authors: School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Basic Medicine and Nosography, Nagano College of Nursing, Komagane, Japan.
authors: Yingge
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
authors: Jianglin
authors: J
authors: Fan
authors: Basic Medicine and Nosography, Nagano College of Nursing, Komagane, Japan.
authors: En
authors: E
authors: Takashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002254:Carbonates / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D014867:Water; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9