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Galvanic zinc–copper microparticles produce electrical stimulation that reduces the inflammatory and immune responses in skin

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Abstract

The human body has its own innate electrical system that regulates the body’s functions via communications among organs through the well-known neural system. While the effect of low-level electrical stimulation on wound repair has been reported, few studies have examined the effect of electric potential on non-wounded, intact skin. A galvanic couple comprised of elemental zinc and copper was used to determine the effects of low-level electrical stimulation on intact skin physiology using a Dermacorder device. Zn–Cu induced the electrical potential recorded on intact skin, enhanced H2O2 production and activated p38 MAPK and Hsp27 in primary keratinocytes. Treatment with Zn–Cu was also found to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1α, IL-2, NO and TNF-α in multiple cell types after stimulation with PHA or Propionibacterium acnes bacteria. The Zn–Cu complex led to a dose-dependent inhibition of TNF-α-induced NF-κB levels in keratinocytes as measured by a dual-luciferase promoter assay, and prevented p65 translocation to the nucleus observed via immunofluorescence. Suppression of NF-κB activity via crosstalk with p38 MAPK might be one of the potential pathways by which Zn–Cu exerted its inflammatory effects. Topical application of Zn–Cu successfully mitigated TPA-induced dermatitis and oxazolone-induced hypersensitivity in mice models of ear edema. Anti-inflammatory activity induced by the Zn–Cu galvanic couple appears to be mediated, at least in part, by production of low level of hydrogen peroxide since this activity is reversed by the addition of Catalase enzyme. Collectively, these results show that a galvanic couple containing Zn–Cu strongly reduces the inflammatory and immune responses in intact skin, providing evidence for the role of electric stimulation in non-wounded skin.

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Abbreviations

PHA:

Phytohemagglutinin

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

TPA:

Tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

IL-2:

Interleukin-2

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

IL-10:

Interleukin-10

IL-12:

Interleukin-12

GM-CSF:

Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor

COX-2:

Cyclo-oxygenase-2

PGE2 :

Prostaglandin E2

P. acnes :

Propionibacterium acnes

NO:

Nitric oxide

RT:

Room temperature

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

PI(3)K:

Phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase

PTEN:

Phosphatase and tensin homolog

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Runa Sur and Jeanette Chantalat for technical assistance.

Conflict of interest

All authors are current employees of Johnson & Johnson. Parts of this work have been presented in a poster format at the Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting, Atlanta (GA), 2010, and American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, Miami, (FL) 2010.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johnson and Johnson Skin Research Center, Johnson & Johnson Consumer and Personal Products Worldwide Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., Skillman, NJ, USA

    Simarna Kaur, Peter Lyte, Michelle Garay, Frank Liebel, Ying Sun, Jue-Chen Liu & Michael D. Southall

  2. Pharmacology, Johnson & Johnson, 199 Grandview Road, Skillman, NJ, 08558, USA

    Michael D. Southall

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  1. Simarna Kaur
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Correspondence to Michael D. Southall.

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Kaur, S., Lyte, P., Garay, M. et al. Galvanic zinc–copper microparticles produce electrical stimulation that reduces the inflammatory and immune responses in skin. Arch Dermatol Res 303, 551–562 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-011-1145-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-011-1145-9

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