黄芩苷对中波紫外线所致HaCaT细胞凋亡、细胞周期变化及p16、原癌基因c-myc蛋白表达的影响

目的:观察中波紫外线(UVB)辐射引起的人表皮角质形成细胞株HacaT细胞凋亡、细胞周期及p16、c-myc蛋白水平的影响及传统中药黄芩苷(baicalin)对它的干预作用.方法:以200 mg/L黄芩苷预处理HacaT细胞,以流式细胞仪检测经0、30、60和90 mJ/cm2的UVB照射后24 h细胞周期和凋亡率变化;以Western blot方法检测90 mJ/cm2 UVB照射后p16、c-myc 蛋白的表达水平.结果:UVB照射可诱导HaCaT细胞产生凋亡,凋亡率呈剂量依赖性增加;30 mJ/cm2 剂量下细胞可出现明显S期阻滞,随UVB剂量增大,S期细胞数量相对下降;照光后p16、c-myc蛋白水平均有所增高.加入黄芩苷处理可抑制UVB引起的上述变化.结论:黄芩苷可明显抑制UVB引起的凋亡与细胞周期阻滞以及p16、c-myc蛋白表达,证实该药具有有效的光保护作用.     

EGCG对中波紫外线诱导HaCaT细胞p53基因和蛋白表达的实验研究

目的:研究表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)对中波紫外线(UVB)照射诱导永生化角质形成细胞株-HaCaT细胞的p53 mRNA和p53蛋白表达的影响。方法:以一定剂量UVB照射HaCaT细胞,并以200μg/mL EGCG处理照射后的HaCaT细胞,分别用RT-PCR法和Western blot方法检测各处理条件下p53 mRNA和/或p53蛋白的表达水平。结果:30 mJ/cm2的UVB照射后HaCaT细胞的p53 mR-NA和p53蛋白表达逐渐增加,4 h达到峰值,4 h后随照射剂量增加而增加,24 h后有所恢复;加入EGCG可下调UVB诱导的表达作用。结论:UVB照射对HaCaT细胞p53 mRNA和p53蛋白的诱导表达有时效性与量效性,EGCG可下调UVB照射的这种诱导作用。     

中波紫外线对HaCaT细胞凋亡、细胞周期变化及p16、c-myc蛋白表达的影响及阿魏酸干预作用研究

目的观察传统中药川芎的有效成份阿魏酸(ferulic)对中波紫外线(UVB)辐射引起的人表皮角质形成细胞系HaCaT细胞凋亡、细胞周期及对p16、c-myc蛋白水平变化的影响,以探讨其光保护作用与机制。方法培养HaCaT细胞,以不同剂量UVB和200mg/mL浓度的阿魏酸处理细胞,以流式细胞仪检测0、30、60和90mJ/cm~2的UVB照射后24h细胞周期和凋亡率变化;以Western blot方法检测30mJ/cm~2UVB照射后p16、c-myc蛋白的表达水平。结果UVB照射诱导HaCaT细胞产生凋亡,凋亡率呈UVB剂量增加而升高;30mJ/cm~2剂量下细胞可出现明显S期阻滞,但高剂量时S期细胞数量相对下降;照光后p16、c-myc蛋白水平均增高。加入阿魏酸处理可抑制UVB引起的上述改变。结论阿魏酸可明显抑制UVB引起的凋亡与细胞周期阻滞以及p16、c-myc蛋白表达。     

中波紫外线诱导皮肤角质形成细胞凋亡机制的研究进展

紫外线照射表皮后引起DNA损伤的表皮细胞通过日晒伤细胞(凋亡的角质形成细胞)的形成来清除。p53、Fas、Trp53等基因的表达促进角质形成细胞凋亡,而survivin的表达则抑制角质形成细胞凋亡。紫外线照射后皮肤可产生环丁烷嘧啶二聚体和6-4光产物,这两种光产物可以作为UVB诱导凋亡的起始信号。凋亡在清除DNA损伤的皮肤起着重要作用。在皮肤中通过凋亡清除DNA损伤的细胞,防止日光诱导癌变,而不是依赖于DNA损伤的校正修复。silibinin对中波紫外线引起人HaCaT永生化角质形成细胞凋亡具有双向调控作用。对UVB引起角质形成细胞凋亡的调控药物,值得进一步研究。     

中波紫外线辐射损伤角质形成细胞的p53信号传导通路研究

目的 探讨中波紫外线(UVB)辐射对角质形成细胞p53信号传导通路的影响.方法 以20、60和120mJ/cm²UVB辐射培养的取自健康儿童包皮的正常人表皮角质形成细胞,应用RT-PCR和免疫印迹方法,分别从mRNA水平和蛋白质水平,检测分析UVB辐射后2h、24h和48h,p53及其下游分子MDM2、p21、Bax和GADD45的表达.结果 不同剂量UVB辐射角质形成细胞后均可见p53表达水平持续性显著升高(P<0.05).低剂量UVB辐射角质形成细胞后,MDM2、p21、GADD45升高不明显(P>0.05),Bax不表达;UVB辐射剂量升至60mJ/cm²后,MDM2于辐射后2h短暂性显著升高,p21和Bax持续性显著升高.结论 UVB辐射激活了角质形成细胞的p53信号传导通路,p53下游分子的表达具有剂量依赖性和时相性.     

中波紫外线对角质形成细胞MMP-1及TIMP-1的影响

目的：研究中波紫外线照射对永生化人角质形成细胞的影响。方法：绘制细胞生长曲线,用不同剂量UVB（30、60、90 mJ/cm2）照射永生化人角质形成细胞,用MTT方法测定UVB照射后细胞的增殖活性,用RT-PCR方法测定HaCaT细胞中MMP-1mRNA和TIMP-1mRNA的表达。结果：UVB照射后,HaCaT细胞的增殖活性受到抑制,MMP-1 mRNA表达增强,TIMP-1 mRNA表达下降,90 mJ/cm2照光组与未照光组比较,差异均有统计学意义。结论：UVB照射可诱导HaCaT细胞损伤和细胞凋亡,促使MMP-1mRNA表达增加,TIMP-1 mRNA表达减少,二者比例失调,这可能与光老化的发生有一定的关系。     

紫外线诱导角质形成细胞凋亡和表没食子儿茶酚没食子酸酯保护机理的探讨

目的探讨不同剂量的中波紫外线(UVB)辐射对体外培养的人角质形成细胞(HaCaT细胞株)凋亡和死亡的影响,探讨表没食子儿茶酚没食子酸酯(EGCG)对此影响的保护作用,以及与凋亡相关的bcl-2和Fas基因之间的关系。方法流式细胞仪检测不同剂量UVB辐照及EGCG处理后角质形成细胞凋亡和死亡数量以及bcl-2蛋白水平的变化,RT-PCR检测FasmRNA的表达水平。结果UVB辐照组凋亡细胞数和死亡细胞数显著高于对照组(P<0.01),bcl-2和FasmRNA量与对照组差异也有显著性(P<0.01)。UVB辐照126mJ/cm2组凋亡细胞数低于辐照42mJ/cm2组(t=2.39,P<0.05),但死亡细胞比例显著增加(t=4.82,P<0.01),两组bcl-2和FasmRNA表达量差异均无显著性(t=1.30,P>0.25;t=0.32,P>0.25)。UVB辐照42mJ/cm2立即加入EGCG组较辐照42mJ/cm2未加EGCG组凋亡和死亡细胞数降低(t=7.64,P<0.01;t=3.49,P<0.05),bcl-2增加(t=3.62,P<0.05),FasmRNA表达量减少(t=6.83,P<0.01)。结论小剂量UVB辐照可以诱导体外培养的角质形成细胞凋亡,大剂量UVB辐照则导致细胞死亡,EGCG通过与凋亡相关的bcl-2和Fas减少紫外线诱导的角质形成细胞凋亡。     

中波紫外线诱导HaCaT细胞凋亡的研究

目的以不同剂量的中波紫外线(UVB)诱导体外培养的人永生化角质形成细胞(HaCaT细胞)凋亡,探讨肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)是否参与凋亡过程。方法取对数生长期的HaCaT细胞,分别用10 mJ/cm2,15 J/cm2,20 J/cm2,25 J/cm2,30 J/cm2的UVB照射,并于照射24 h后检测HaCaT细胞的增殖活性,分析HaCaT细胞的凋亡率,测定HaCaT细胞上清液中TNF-α的水平,观察细胞形态及凋亡细胞特征。结果在10~30 mJ/cm2的UVB照射下,随照射剂量的增大,细胞的增殖活性逐渐下降,而细胞的凋亡率逐渐增加,当剂量达30 J/cm2时,细胞凋亡率最大,细胞的增殖活性和凋亡率呈直线负相关;随UVB照射剂量的增大,TNF-α的分泌量增加,细胞上清液中TNF-α的分泌量和凋亡率呈直线正相关;倒置显微镜及透射电镜进一步从形态学上证实了细胞的凋亡改变。结论UVB可诱导细胞凋亡,且呈剂量依赖性;照射产生的TNF-α可能参与了其凋亡过程。     

中波紫外线对角质形成细胞NF-κB p65及其抑制因子IκBα表达的影响北大核心CSCD

目的 探讨不同剂量中波紫外线（UVB）照射对体外培养的人皮肤角质形成细胞NF-κB p65及其抑制因子IκBα表达的调控效应.方法 4.5、10及50 mJ/cm2UVB照射人角质形成细胞系及人原代角质形成细胞,设置未经照射的对照组,在照射后4h使用Western印迹法测定细胞总蛋白中IκBα及NF-κB p65的表达水平.并对人原代角质形成细胞进行50 mJ/cm2UVB照射,照射后继续培养2、4、8、12h,分别测定4个时间点IκBα及NF-κB p65的表达水平.蛋白条带密度分析使用Quantity One（R）4.6.8软件,分别计算IKKβ、IκBα、NF-κB p65以及磷酸化IKKα/β、IκBα、NF-κB p65和β肌动蛋白条带吸光度和面积的乘积,再分别计算IKKβ、IκBα和NF-κB p65与β肌动蛋白的比值,取3次实验结果.结果 4.5和10 mJ/cm2 UVB照射后4h,相对于对照组细胞,人角质形成细胞系及人原代角质形成细胞总蛋白中IKKβ、IκBα、NF-κB p65表达水平均无明显变化（P＞ 0.05）;50 mJ/cm2 UVB照射后4h,细胞系及原代角质形成细胞中IKKβ表达水平均无明显变化（P＞0.05）;原代角质形成细胞IκBα表达水平（0.173±0.055）较对照组细胞（0.462±0.142）显著降低（t=5.64,P＜ 0.05）,NF-κB p65表达水平（0.076±0.030）也较对照组细胞（0.120±0.034）降低（t=5.40,P＜0.05）;角质形成细胞IκBα表达水平（0.160±0.046）较对照组细胞（0.398±0.136）轻度下调（t=4.37,P＜0.05）,NF-κB p65的表达水平无明显变化（P＞0.05）.50 mJ/cm2 UVB照射原代角质形成细胞后2h,IκBα表达水平（0.140±0.034）相对于对照组细胞（0.208±0.031）开始下调（t=17.55,P＜ 0.05）,并随照射后时间延长下调效应更为显著;NF-κB p65的表达水平在2h和4h时较对照细胞无明显变化（P＞0.05）,8h时（1.162±0.345）较对照细胞（1.235±0.349）表达水平下调（t=36.67,P＜0.05）,12 h时（1.061±0.246）较对照细胞（1.390±0.226）仍下调（t=8.71,P＜0.05）,随着时间的推进下调效应无明显改变;磷酸化IKKα/β（ser176/180）、IKKβ、磷酸化IκBα（ser32）、磷酸化NF-κB p65（ser536）表达量均无明显改变（P＞0.05）.结论 高剂量（50 mJ/cm2）UVB照射可显著抑制人原代角质形成细胞IκBα表达,同时轻度抑制NF-κB p65蛋白的表达,提示可能存在UVB照射人原代角质形成细胞引起NF-κB p65活化的另一种通路.     

黑果枸杞水提取物抑制UVB辐射后HaCaT细胞的凋亡及p16、p53蛋白表达

目的：明确黑果枸杞水提取物对中波紫外线(UVB)辐射引起的HaCaT细胞凋亡及p16、p53蛋白表达的影响。方法： 体外培养HaCaT细胞,分为对照组、UVB组、UVB+黑果枸杞水提取物组,UVB照射剂量为30 mJ/cm2 UVB,黑果枸杞水提取物浓度为2 mg/mL。流式细胞仪检测各组UVB照射后24 h细胞凋亡率,Western blot检测各组HaCaT细胞p16、p53蛋白的表达水平。结果：与对照组（6.12±1.19）%比较,UVB组HaCaT细胞凋亡率为(74.89±3.90)%、UVB+黑枸杞水提取物组为（57.52±2.93）%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。对照组p16和p53蛋白水平为0.1±0.03和0.21±0.07,UVB组为0.28±0.06和0.5±0.04、UVB+黑枸杞水提取物组为0.15±0.025和0.25±0.01,差异均有统计学意义（Ps<0.05）。结论：黑果枸杞水提物可抑制UVB引起的HaCaT细胞凋亡以及p16、p53蛋白表达。     

Erythroid differentiation regulator 1 (Erdr1) is a proapototic factor in human keratinocytes

Skin is constantly exposed to physical and chemical stressors. The exposure of keratinocytes to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation causes epidermal damage via induction of apoptosis. Erythroid differentiation regulator 1 (Erdr1) modulates growth and survival of cells under various stressful conditions, but the function of Erdr1 in human keratinocyte apoptosis has not been investigated so far. Here, we investigated the effect of Erdr1 on UVB-induced apoptosis in human keratinocytes and also examined the underlying regulatory mechanism. First, Erdr1 expression was detected in human primary keratinocytes and normal human skin tissues. Expression of Erdr1 was enhanced in human keratinocytes following UVB irradiation. Knock-down of Erdr1 led to resistance to UVB-induced apoptosis. Also, Erdr1 overexpression increased UVB-induced apoptosis and induced caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor PD98059 and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 significantly reduced Erdr1 expression following UVB irradiation. These results indicate that UVB induces Erdr1 via a MAPK-dependent mechanism. Taken together, these findings suggest that Erdr1 has a role as a proapoptotic factor in human keratinocytes and acts via ERK and p38 MAPK pathways. Therefore, Erdr1 may be a potential therapeutic target to reduce apoptosis in keratinocytes in conditions such as psoriasis and skin cancer.     

Transgene expression in human epidermal keratinocytes: cell cycle arrest of productively transfected cells

We have analysed the consequences of liposome mediated gene transfer into human primary epidermal keratinocytes and compared non-Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and EBV based expression vectors that carry the genes encoding human Growth Hormone (hGH) or Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP). Different kinetics between the non-EBV and EBV based vectors were revealed upon subcultivation of hGH transfected keratinocytes. The keratinocytes transfected with non-EBV based vector showed a rapid reduction in hGH production. Although the EBV based vector resulted in more stable expression, this was also reduced over time. Chromatin inactivation by deacetylation was investigated by treatment with sodium butyrate and found not to be the reason for the decreasing expression. Keratinocytes divided into subpopulations enriched for either stem cells or transit amplifying cells, based on beta1-integrin expression and function, do not differ significantly with respect to susceptibility to productive transfection. However, when the keratinocytes were transfected with the EGFP gene and sorted live by FACS into EGFP negative and positive populations, only the negative cells were capable of forming significant numbers of colonies. This is consistent with the observation that the ability to incorporate BrdU was dramatically reduced in the EGFP expressing population within 24-48 h post transfection indicating an almost complete cell cycle arrest. p53 levels were unaffected by the procedures, and the keratinocyte cell line HaCat, mutated in both p53 alleles, also shows a marked reduction in clonogenic potency upon transfection. There was a slight increase of TUNEL positive apoptotic nuclei in the positive population at early time points. However, the apoptotic index was still very low. When we measured the frequency of involucrin expressing cells, we found an increase in the productively transfected population over time indicating an initiation of terminal differentiation. In contrast to the transfected cultures, keratinocytes that were transduced using a retroviral vector showed no decrease in colony forming efficiency. In conclusion we find that transgene expressing cells from transfected cultures of epidermal keratinocytes undergo cell cycle arrest and initiate terminal differentiation by mechanisms which are independent of p53 levels.     

Local effects of TL01 phototherapy in psoriasis

The mechanisms whereby narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) (311-313 nm, TL01) phototherapy are effective in psoriasis may differ from those occurring in broadband UVB phototherapy. In the present study, changes in epidermal cells as a result of TL01 therapy were assessed in the skin of patients with psoriasis. The non-lesional skin of five subjects with plaque psoriasis was biopsied before and after a series of 12 whole-body TL01 treatments. Following appropriate staining of skin sections, the numbers of p53-positive keratinocytes, sunburn cells and Langerhans cells in the epidermis were counted. TL01 therapy induced a threefold increase in the number of p53-positive epidermal cells, a 12-fold increase in sunburn cells and a twofold decrease in Langerhans cells. The increase in epidermal p53 expression and apoptosis of keratinocytes together with the depletion of Langerhans cells in the non-lesional skin of psoriasis patients are likely to contribute to the effectiveness of TL01 phototherapy.     

Ultraviolet radiation B induces differentiation and protein kinase C in normal human epidermal keratinocytes

Mid-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVB, 280–320 nm) is highly efficient at inducing erythema, pyrimidine dimers in DNA, oncogene expression and initiation of cutaneous tumors. These UVB-induced responses of epidermal cells have been correlated with the direct effects of UVB on DNA. However, UVB has also been shown to have biologic effects at the cellular level that appear to mimic some of the membrane-associated effects produced by phorbol ester tumor promoters such as 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). For example, we have previously shown that both UVB irradiation and TPA treatment are followed by release of arachidonic acid and a rapid, dose-dependent inhibition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding. TPA generates cellular responses through activation of a phospholipid-dependent, calcium-sensitive protein kinase, protein kinase C (PKC). The primary goal of the studies described here was to compare the cellular effects of TPA with those of UVB with special regard to PKC and keratinocyte growth control, using normal human epidermal keratinocytes. The results obtained showed that both TPA and UVB radiation induced differentiation in normal human keratinocytes. UVB radiation, however, increased both cytosolic and membrane-associated levels of PKC, in contrast to TPA, which increased PKC primarily in the membrane fraction. PKC is probably not the initial chromophore or target molecule of UVB, but because activation of PKC has been shown to be essential for keratinocyte differentiation, differentiation induced by UVB may be caused by activation of PKC by UVB-induced release of diacylglycerol or arachidonic acid.     

Ultraviolet B-induced LGI3 secretion protects human keratinocytes

Leucine‐rich glioma inactivated 3 (LGI3) is known to be expressed mainly in the brain. However, the expression and physiological roles of LGI3 in skin cells remain unknown. In this study, it was found for the first time that LGI3 is expressed mostly by normal human keratinocytes. Furthermore, ELISA analysis showed that HaCaT human keratinocytes increased LGI3 secretion after exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. We next investigated the possible role of LGI3 in keratinocytes. LGI3 (50 ng/ml) increased survival of HaCaT cells by 20% after UVB irradiation (150 mJ/cm²). It was also found that LGI3 stimulates the phosphorylation of Akt, which is involved in the cell survival‐signalling cascade. Furthermore, LGI3 led to the phosphorylation of MDM2 and subsequent p53 degradation. Taken together, the data suggest that LGI3 may regulate p53 levels and that keratinocyte‐derived LGI3 may act as a novel cytokine for skin homoeostasis.     

Subphysiological concentrations of extracellular calcium sensitize normal human keratinocytes to UVB-induced apoptosis

Abstract Normal human keratinocytes are stimulated to proliferate in serum-free medium containing subphysiological concentrations of calcium (0.09 mM, low calcium). In this study, we examined the effect of increased levels of extracellular calcium (2.0 mM, normal calcium) on UVB-induced apoptosis. Apoptosis was assessed by changes in cellular morphology, annexind V-FITC flow cytometry, and the formation of internucleosomal DNA ladders. High doses of UVB induced keratinocytes grown in low calcium medium to undergo apoptosis. In contrast, keratinocytes grown for 72 h in normal calcium medium were completely resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis. No apoptosis was observed even at UVB doses as high as 1200 J/m². However, despite the lack of UVB-induced cell death, keratinocytes grown in normal calcium medium lost the ability to proliferate following high levels of UVB irradiation. High doses of UVB also increased the expression of the differentiation-specific proteins involucrin and cytokeratin 10 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, growth in normal calcium medium lowered the UVB-induced stimulation of the p53 protein and altered the normal subcellular localization pattern of p53. UVB irradiation of human keratinocytes grown in normal calcium medium may be inducing further cell differentiation in the absence of overt cell death. Received: 16 April 1998 / Received after revision: 31 August 1998 / Accepted: 23 September 1998     

UVB‐inhibited H19 activates melanogenesis by paracrine effects

The long noncoding RNA H19 was reported to associate with melanogenesis. However, it remains unknown whether H19 expression will be changed by UVB irradiation and whether H19 will regulate melanocytes melanogenesis by paracrine effects. Here, we analysed the expression changes of H19 irradiated by UVB in keratinocytes and explored the mechanism of melanogenesis stimulated by H19 through paracrine effects. First, after keratinocytes were exposed to UVB irradiation, expression of H19 and pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) was measured by qRT‐PCR. Also, α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) contents in cells supernatant were measured by ELISA. Then, H19 siRNAs were designed and transfected into keratinocytes by liposome. The expression changes of H19, POMC and α‐MSH were detected. Besides, expression of p53 was detected by Western blot. After that, supernatant of keratinocytes with H19 siRNAs or negative control siRNA was cocultured with immortalized melanocyte line PIG1. Expression levels of MiTF, TYR, Rab27A, TYRP2, FSCN1 and MYO5A in PIG1 cells were detected by Western blot and qRT‐PCR. We found that H19 expression of keratinocytes cells decreased after UVB irradiation. However, the levels of POMC, α‐MSH and p53 were upregulated in UVB‐irradiated cells. Compared with the negative control, H19 siRNAs could significantly increase the expression of POMC, α‐MSH and p53. After supernatant of keratinocytes transfected with H19 siRNAs was cocultured with PIG1 cells, the levels of MiTF, TYR and Rab27A were upregulated in PIG1 cells. In conclusion, UVB‐inhibited H19 may promote α‐MSH secretion by p53 in keratinocytes and then regulate melanocytes melanogenesis through paracrine effects.     

Increased expression of Fas on human epidermal cells after in vivo exposure to single-dose ultraviolet (UV) B or long-wave UVA radiation

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis has been proposed to act as an important mechanism for eliminating keratinocytes that have been irreversibly damaged by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. One way to induce apoptosis in keratinocytes is through activation of the cell surface receptor Fas (CD95), either with the ligand (FasL) or directly with UV radiation. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the regulation of Fas and FasL expression in human skin and the formation of apoptotic cells after in vivo exposure to UVB or long-wave UVA radiation. METHODS: Volunteers were irradiated with either 3 minimal erythema doses (MED) of UVB (n = 6) or 3 MED of long-wave UVA (n = 6) on buttock skin 12, 24 and 72 h before skin punch biopsies were taken. Expression of Fas and FasL was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry on cryostat sections. Apoptosis was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated fluorescein-deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labelling reaction. RESULTS: In five of six subjects, exposure to UVB radiation resulted in increased homogeneous expression of Fas on epidermal cells, with greatest expression at 24 and 72 h after irradiation. In all subjects, exposure to long-wave UVA resulted in increased homogeneous expression of Fas on epidermal cells, with greatest expression at 12 h after irradiation. In five of six subjects, exposure to UVB radiation resulted in temporarily decreased expression of FasL, but after 72 h the expression of FasL had returned to the preirradiation level. The expression of FasL on epidermal cells after exposure to long-wave UVA showed considerable variation. UVB irradiation was a stronger inducer of epidermal apoptosis than was UVA irradiation. The number of apoptotic epidermal cells did not correlate with expression of Fas or FasL. CONCLUSIONS: In human skin the expression of Fas on epidermal cells increases after in vivo exposure to UVB or long-wave UVA. Exposure to UVB causes a temporary decrease in the expression of FasL on epidermal cells.