Boron and manganese salts and keratinocytes: Chebassier et al report on the stimulatory effect of boron and manganese salts on keratinocytes. Keratinocyte proliferation and migration are essential for the reconstruction of the cutaneous barrier after skin injury. Interestingly, thermal waters which are rich in trace elements (e.g. boron and manganese) are known to improve wound healing.
In order to understand the mechanisms of action of this effect, investigators studied the in vitro modulation of keratinocyte migration and proliferation by boron and manganese salts, which are present in high concentrations in a thermal water, according to the French spa, Saint Gervais. An in vitro study demonstrated that incubating keratinocytes for 24 hours with boron salts at concentrations between 0.5 and 10 μg/ml or manganese salts at concentrations between 0.1 and 1.5 μg/ml accelerated wound closure compared with a control medium. As this acceleration of healing was not related to an increase in keratinocyte proliferation, researchers suggest that boron and manganese act on wound healing mainly by increasing the migration of keratinocytes.
