Arsenic Impairs Wound Healing Processes in Dermal Fibroblasts and Mice

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Inorganic arsenic (NaAsO2) is a global water contaminant exceeding EPA limits.
• Arsenic exposure is linked to various health issues, but its effect on wound healing is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of environmentally relevant arsenic concentrations on wound healing.
• To determine if arsenic affects wound healing in a sex-specific manner.

Main Methods:

• In vitro: dermal fibroblast exposure to NaAsO2 to assess migration, proliferation, and viability.
• In vivo: C57BL/6 mice exposed to NaAsO2, followed by full thickness dorsal wound creation and evaluation.
• Gene expression analysis of skin tissue.

Main Results:

• In vitro: NaAsO2 reduced fibroblast migration, proliferation, and viability (LOEL 10 µM).
• MMP1 transcript enrichment observed at 1 µM NaAsO2.
• In vivo: Female mice showed reduced wound closure and increased erythema; males did not.
• Female mice exhibited increased As3mt and Esr2 mRNA in wound skin.

Conclusions:

• Environmentally relevant arsenic concentrations negatively impact wound healing.
• Arsenic's detrimental effects on wound healing are sex-specific, observed primarily in females.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind sex-specific arsenic toxicity in wound repair.