Immunomodulatory Effects of Balneotherapy with Hae-Un-Dae Thermal Water on Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Murine Model.
- Author:
Young Bok LEE
1
;
Jun Young LEE
;
Hye Jin LEE
;
Seong Taek YUN
;
Jong Tae LEE
;
Hong Jig KIM
;
Dong Soo YU
;
So Youn WOO
;
Jin Wou KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Bath; Immunomodulation; Mineral waters; Psoriasis
- MeSH: Balneology*; Baths; Cytokines; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Erythema; Flow Cytometry; Hot Springs; Immunomodulation; Inflammation; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-23; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-5; Interleukins; Mineral Waters; Psoriasis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Skin; Spleen; Water*; Weights and Measures
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2014;26(2):221-230
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Balneotherapy, although not a well-established dermatological treatment, is thought to have therapeutic properties for psoriasis and is used as an alternative treatment modality throughout the world. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic immunologic effects of thermomineral water. METHODS: A murine model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation was used for evaluating the therapeutic effects of balneotherapy with Hae-Un-Dae hot spring mineral water. The clinical improvements were evaluated by a dermatologist. Lesional cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23, and IL-22, were quantitatively measured by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Serum levels of interferon-gamma, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-17A were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. T cell proportions in the spleen were evaluated by flow cytometry, and histopathological evaluation of the skin was also performed. RESULTS: The mineral water balneotherapy group showed faster improvement in skin erythema and scales than the distilled water bathing group. A substantial reduction was observed in the lesional mRNA levels of IL-17A and IL-23 in the mineral water group. Serum levels of IL-4 and IL-5 were significantly decreased in the mineral water group but not in the distilled water group. Normalized T cell proportions were observed after bathing. CONCLUSION: Balneotherapy showed immunomodulatory effects in a psoriasis-like murine model. Balneotherapy suppressed lesional IL-23 and IL-17A, which are important cytokines in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. These results suggest that balneotherapy can be used as an effective and safe treatment for psoriasis.
