Effects of Auron-Misheil-Therapy in human in vitro skin models

Abstract

Auron-Misheil-Therapy (AMT) is currently under development as an anticancer treatment. The aim of the present study was the identification of possible effects and properties of AMT with regard to human skin. The study consisted of three experimental phases. Phase 1 assessed the effects of AMT on the viability of 2-D evaluated and accredited cell cultures of three cell types of human skin, namely: keratinocytes, melanocytes and fibroblasts. Three separate assays were used in this phase. Phase 2 was designed to clarify the effects of AMT on cell viability to investigate the mode of action of AMT. Two possible modes of action were investigated: proliferation inhibition and apoptosis. There was one assay to assess proliferation, and two independent assays to assess apoptosis. The third phase assessed the effects of AMT on two different types of 3-D skin models, an ex vivo model and a de novo reconstituted model. In the phase 1 tests, reduction of cell viability by AMT was demonstrated in all three cell types. In phase 2, the cell proliferation assay showed decreased proliferation rates in the presence of AMT in three out of four cell populations. In phase 3, histochemical investigations with 3-D models indicated that AMT induces desquamation, most likely as the result of apoptosis of epidermal cells. The experiments generally showed that AMT does not harm human skin at concentrations up to 3%.