Post-Treatment of Micro-Needling with a Dexpanthenol-Containing Ointment Accelerates Epidermal Wound Healing in Human 3D Skin Models

Abstract

Purpose: In vitro study on the molecular effects of post-treatment after micro-needling applications with a dexpanthenol-containing ointment (DCO) using 3D skin models.

Patients and methods: In this in vitro study, full-thickness human 3D skin models were treated with a micro-needling device according to its clinical application. For post-treatment, some of the models were additionally treated with a dexpanthenol-containing ointment (DCO). Histological samples were taken at 0, 24 and 48 hours. Gene expression analysis was performed after 24 hours.

Results: Histological examination showed that DCO post-treated 3D skin models revealed a completed wound closure 24 hours after the micro-needling procedure. In contrast, DCO-untreated models still clearly exhibited the micro-needling lesions after the same period of time. After 48 hours, all models revealed a completed wound healing. In skin models that received micro-needling but no post-treatment with DCO, microarray analysis identified an upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and a downregulation of skin barrier and differentiation markers. In contrast, post-treatment with DCO leads to accelerated wound healing without affecting the initial inflammatory response caused by micro-needling, which leads to the subsequent collagen expression. This data was supported by qRT-PCR analyses.

Conclusion: Post-treatment with DCO accelerates epidermal wound healing after micro-needling of 3D skin models without impairing the immunostimulatory properties of micro-needling. These findings can help to optimise the aftercare routine after micro-needling procedures and to shorten the downtime for the patient after treatment.

Keywords: aftercare; cosmetic procedures; human organotypic skin equivalents; in vitro models; molecular effects; skin needling.

Figure 1

Histological analysis of micro-needling-treated 3D skin models. Upper row shows hematoxylin and eosin stainings of untreated controls and skin models immediately after micro-needling treatment (0 h). The middle row shows untreated controls, micro-needling-treated models, and models that were additionally post-treated with DCO, 24 h after treatment. The bottom row shows the corresponding models 48 h after treatment. Shown are representative images from four independent experiments. h = hours. Scale bar: 200 µm. The black arrows indicate the lesions.

Figure 2

Gene expression profiling in micro-needling-treated 3D skin models. Microarray analysis in models 24 h after (a) micro-needling treatment in comparison to untreated controls, (b) micro-needling treatment and additional post-treatment with a dexpanthenol-containing ointment (DCO) in comparison to untreated controls, and (c) micro-needling treatment and additional post-treatment with DCO compared to micro-needling-treated models without post-treatment.

Figure 3

RT-PCR analysis of four independent experiments displaying the expression of selected genes. Selective gene expressions in micro-needling-treated skin models and micro-needling-treated skin models that received post-treatment with DCO were normalized to untreated controls. *p < 0.05.