Trioxsalen in the presence of UVA is able to induce nuclear factor kappa B binding activity in HaCaT keratinocytes

Cruciferous vegetables have variable effects on biomarkers of systemic inflammation in a randomized controlled trial in healthy young adults

BACKGROUND

Isothiocyanates in cruciferous vegetables modulate signaling pathways critical to carcinogenesis, including nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), a central regulator of inflammation. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 and GSTT1 metabolize isothiocyanates; genetic variants may result in differences in biologic response.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to test whether consumption of cruciferous or cruciferous plus apiaceous vegetables altered serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, and soluble TNF receptor (sTNFR) I and II, and whether this response was GSTM1/GSTT1 genotype dependent.

METHODS

In a randomized crossover trial, healthy men (n = 32) and women (n = 31) aged 20-40 y consumed 4 14-d controlled diets: basal (vegetable-free), single-dose cruciferous (1xC) [7 g vegetables/kg body weight (BW)], double-dose cruciferous (2xC) (14 g/kg BW), and cruciferous plus apiaceous (carrot family) (1xC+A) vegetables (7 and 4 g/kg BW, respectively), with a 21-d washout period between each intervention. Urinary isothiocyanate excretion was also evaluated as a marker of systemic isothiocyanate exposure. Fasting morning blood and urine samples were collected on days 0 and 14 and analyzed.

RESULTS

IL-6 concentrations were significantly lower on day 14 of the 2xC and 1xC+A diets than with the basal diet [-19% (95% CI: -30%, -0.1%) and -20% (95% CI: -31%, -0.7%), respectively]. IL-8 concentrations were higher after the 1xC+A diet (+16%; 95% CI: 4.2%, 35.2%) than after the basal diet. There were no effects of diet on CRP, TNF-α, or sTNFRI or II. There were significant differences between GSTM1-null/GSTT1+ individuals for several biomarkers in response to 1xC+A compared with basal diets (CRP: -37.8%; 95% CI: -58.0%, -7.4%; IL-6: -48.6%; 95% CI: -49.6%, -12.0%; IL-8: 16.3%; 95% CI: 6.7%, 57.7%) and with the 2xC diet compared with the basal diet (IL-8: -33.2%; 95% CI: -43.0%, -1.4%; sTNFRI: -7.5%; 95% CI: -12.7%, -2.3%). There were no significant reductions in biomarker concentrations in response to diet among GSTM1+/GSTT1+ or GSTM1-null/GSTT1-null individuals. Twenty-four-hour urinary isothiocyanate excretion was not associated with any of the inflammation markers overall; however, IL-6 was inversely associated with total isothiocyanate excretion in GSTM1-null/GSTT1-null individuals (β = -0.12; 95% CI: -0.19, -0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this young, healthy population, consumption of cruciferous and apiaceous vegetables reduced circulating IL-6; however, results for other biomarkers of inflammation were not consistent.

Differential activation of signaling pathways by UVA and UVB radiation in normal human epidermal keratinocytes

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the solar spectrum is a major etiological factor for many cutaneous pathologies including cancer. By understanding changes in cell signaling pathways induced by UVA and UVB, novel strategies for prevention and treatment of UV-related pathologies could be developed. However, much of the information in the literature from various laboratories cannot cross talk because of difficulties associated with the use of ill-defined light sources and physiologically irrelevant light dosimetry. Herein, we have assessed the effect of exposure of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) to UVA (2 and 4 J cm(-2)) or UVB (20 and 40 mJ cm(-2)) radiation. Employing western blot analysis, we found that exposure of NHEK to UVB, but not UVA, phosphorylates JNK1/2 at Th(183)/Tyr(185), STAT3 at Ser(727) , AKT at Ser(473) and increases c-Fos expression, whereas exposure to UVA, but not UVB, phosphorylates AKT at Thr(308). UVB as well as UVA exposure leads to increased phosphorylation of (1) ERK1/2 at Th(202)/Tyr(204); (2) p38 at Th(180)/Tyr(204); (3) STAT3 at Tyr(705); (4) mTOR at Thr(2448); and (v) p70S6k at Thr(421) /Ser(424); enhanced expression of PI3K (p85) and c-jun; and nuclear translocation of NFκB proteins. These findings could be considered as a beginning for understanding the differential effects of UVA and UVB in the human skin and may have implications both with respect to risk assessment from exposure to solar UV radiation, and to target interventions against signaling events mediated by UVA and UVB.

Detection of UV-induced activation of NF-kappaB in a recombinant human cell line by means of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP)

The cellular protection reaction known as ultraviolet (UV) response leads to increased transcription of several genes. Parts of this transcriptional response are transmitted via activation of the Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). The contribution of different UV radiation qualities to this process is not yet known. In a previous work, a stably transfected human cell line was developed which indicates activation of the NF-kappaB pathway by fluorescence of the reporters Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) and its destabilized variant (d2EGFP) thereby allowing a fast and reliable monitoring of UV effects on the NF-kappaB pathway. Cells were exposed to a mercury low-pressure lamp or to simulated sunlight of different wavelength ranges and subjected to flow cytometric analysis after different post-irradiation periods. Growth capacity of cells after UV irradiation was quantified using a luminance measurement of crystal violet stained cell layers. In contrast to UVC and UVB, UVA radiation induced d2EGFP expression and NF-kappaB activation in a non-cytotoxic dose range. These results show that NF-kappaB plays a role in the UVA-induced gene activation in a non-cytotoxic dose range in a human epithelial cell line.

Shower PUVA: A Novel Variant of Photochemotherapy

Shower PUVA is a new variant of photochemotherapy suitable for therapy of various skin disorders. Psoralen, e.g. trioxsalen-containing water recirculates in a closed shower system and wets the skin continuously. After showering, whole-body UVA irradiation (320-400 nm) is performed. In order to prove the equal distribution of photosensitivity in vivo minimal phototoxic dose (MPD) was determined in different skin areas of healthy individuals. Additionally, we investigated the accumulation of trioxsalen in psoriasis lesions under the conditions described by quantifying psoralen in scales collected after showering. In a randomized study 20 healthy volunteers (skin type I-III) took showers for 5 and 10 min in trioxsalen (0.27 mg/l)-containing water at 37 degrees C. Immediately afterwards, MPD was tested on the inside of the upper arms and on the buttocks by using a polychromator light source (315-400 nm). The applied UVA doses were 0.06-0.75 J/cm(2) with steps of 0.125 J/cm(2). MPD was evaluated after 72 h. Equal distribution of photosensitivity was defined as equal MPD on the insides of the upper arm and the buttocks (+/-0.125 J/cm(2)). Skin scales of 21 patients with psoriasis were collected by scratching after showering with trioxsalen-containing water (0.27 mg/l) for 5 min. For quantification of trioxsalen in the scales HPLC was performed. An equal distribution of photosensitivity was achieved in 70% (14/20) cases after 10-min showering in trioxsalen-containing water. Showering for 5 min only revealed a 30% (6/20) rate of equal distributed photosensitivity. After 10-min shower time MPD was 0.325 J/cm(2) (median; range: 0.06-0.625 J/cm(2)). The average amount of trioxsalen found in the scales was 2.03 ng/mg scales (range: 0.38-7.2 ng/mg). For shower PUVA using trioxsalen, 10 min shower time is recommended to achieve sufficient distribution of photosensitivity on the skin. Clinical efficacy of shower PUVA can be explained by skin accumulation of trioxsalen which enters from the aqueous phase into the upper skin layers in detectable amounts. This is the first report demonstrating the efficacy of shower PUVA which in short shower time allows an uptake of psoralen by the skin.

UVA-mediated activation of signaling pathways involved in skin tumor promotion and progression

Each year more than 1,000,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are diagnosed in the Unites States. Solar radiation has been described as an important etiological factor in the development of NMSC. UVA comprises the largest portion of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth (90-99%) and has been described to lead to benign tumor formation as well as malignant cancers, squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). While much research has focused upon the effects of UVB radiation, little is known about UVA-induced signaling pathways and their role in tumor promotion. Here we focus on UVA-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and their role in activator protein-1 (AP-1) mediated transcription and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. AP-1 and COX-2 have been found to play a role in angiogenesis in other tissues. We propose UVA-mediated increases in AP-1 and COX-2 may play a role in tumor promotion through increases in interleukin-8 (IL-8) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Since MAPKs, specifically p38 and JNK, appear to play a major role in the expression of UVA-induced AP-1 and COX-2, pharmacological inhibitors may be of benefit in the chemoprevention of non-melanoma skin cancer.