The Pharmacological Effect of Tangshan Spring Water On HaCaT Cells Treated With TNF- α

Abstract Background Patients with psoriasis were respond to balneotherapy clinically. The mechanism remains uncertain. Objective To explore the pharmacological effect of Tangshan Spring Water (TSW) on HaCaT cell pre-treated with TNF-α. Materials and Methods A psoriasis-like model was constructed from HaCaT cell line by treatment with TNF-α for 48h in vitro and validated by determination of K17 expression. Then the modelled cells were treated with TSW and sodium hydrosulfide (NAHS), respectively. The MTT assay and flow cytometric assay were conducted to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The mRNA level of K17 was quantified using qPCR. The expression of proteins associated with MAPK pathway was quantified by Western blot assay. Results TNF-α treatment promoted HaCaT cell proliferation and increased K17 expression. Results of the MTT assay showed that TSW and NAHS inhibited the proliferation of HaCaT cells and abolished the effects of TNF-α. Moreover, TSW and NAHS induced cell apoptosis and decreased K17 mRNA levels in the model. Interestingly, the effect of NAHS was superior to that of TSW. Western blot assay results revealed that p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK levels were elevated by TNF-α treatment, especially the expression of p-p38. Both TSW and NAHS decreased the phosphorylation level of p38 but not JNK. Treatment with NAHS decreased p-ERK but not TSW treatment. Conclusion TSW inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in TNF-α-treated HaCaT cells. Treatment with TSW inhibits K17 expression via suppressing the activity of MAPK signaling pathway. These pharmacological effects may be attributed to the fact that NAHS is enriched in TSW.