Microcystin-LR affects properties of human epidermal skin cells crucial for regenerative processes

The occurrence of cyanobacterial toxic peptides, including microcystins (MCs), is an emerging health issue due to the eutrophication of water bodies. MCs have a strong influence on human cells, predominantly hepatocytes, however, toxicity was also observed in kidney, lung and dermal skin cells. Skin as the most external barrier of the human body is responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis of the whole organism. Simultaneously, skin cells may be the most exposed to MCs during recreational activity. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of MC-LR on processes indispensable for normal skin function and regeneration, namely, viability, migration and actin cytoskeleton organization of human keratinocytes. The results showed that short exposure to MC-LR does not affect proliferation of human skin keratinocytes but it is toxic after longer incubation in dose-dependent manner. Total disruption of the actin cytoskeleton was observed under the same MC-LR concentration. Furthermore, keratinocyte migration was inhibited at MC-LR concentrations of 50 μM after incubation for only 4 h. Some of the negative impacts of MC-LR on the examined cell processes may be partly reversible. The observed effects, regarding the possible high exposition of keratinocytes to toxins including MCs, are severe and may cause diverse health problems.