表没食子儿茶酚没食子酸酯对紫外线辐射诱导角质形成细胞产生IL-6和NF-κB的影响

目的研究绿茶中的主要活性成分表没食子儿茶酚没食子酸酯(EGCG)对中、长波紫外线辐射诱导角质形成细胞产生IL-6和NF-κB的影响。方法用ELISA法测定角质形成细胞培养上清液中IL-6水平,免疫组化和WesternBlot法检测细胞中NF-κBp65的变化。结果UVB20、30mJ/cm2和UVA10、20J/cm2可以显著促进角质形成细胞分泌IL-6(P<0.05),且细胞内NF-κB的产生明显增加(P<0.05)。0.15mmol/L和0.3mmol/L的EGCG对紫外线诱导的IL-6分泌起到了抑制作用(P<0.05),其中0.3mmol/L的EGCG作用更为明显,对紫外线辐射诱导的角质形成细胞NF-κB产生有着显著的抑制作用(P<0.05)。结论中、长波紫外线辐射可以促进IL-6的分泌。EGCG能够抑制NF-κB易位入核,从而抑制IL-6的分泌。     

Evaluating the cytotoxic doses of narrowband and broadband UVB in human keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts

Background: No comparative and simultaneous in vitro studies have been performed to determine the cytotoxic dose of narrowband UVB (NBUVB) and broadband UVB (BBUVB) for keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts. Culture medium was often replaced with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) before UV irradiation; however, its amount differed across studies. We determined the cytotoxic doses of NBUVB and BBUVB and tested for changes in viability according to the amount of PBS.
Methods: We exposed cultured human keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts to ultraviolet light in the range 12.5–1000 mJ/cm² for NBUVB and 1.25–100 mJ/cm² for BBUVB. The viability was assessed after 24 h. We also determined changes in viability at cytotoxic doses according to the amount of PBS (40, 80, and 120 μl/well in a 96-well plate).
Results: Cytotoxicity was observed at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mJ/cm² for NBUVB and 5, 10, and 25 mJ/cm² for BBUVB in keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts, respectively. At cytotoxic doses, there was no change in viability according to the amount of PBS.
Conclusions: Fibroblasts are more resistant to UVB irradiation, irrespective of the amount of NBUVB and BBUVB, than keratinocytes and melanocytes. The amount of PBS during irradiation had no effect on viability.     

Protective effects of a cream containing Dead Sea minerals against UVB-induced stress in human skin

Background:  Dead Sea (DS) mud and water are known for their unique composition of minerals, and for their therapeutic properties on psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases. Their mode of action, however, remains poorly known.
Objectives:  To analyse the ability of Dermud™, a leave-on skin preparation containing DS mud and other ingredients like DS water, zinc oxide, aloe-vera extract, pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin E, to antagonize biological effects induced by UVB irradiation in skin when topically applied in organ cultures.
Methods:  We have used human skin organ cultures as a model to assess the biological effects of UVB irradiation and of Dermud™ cream topical application. Skin pieces were analysed for mitochondrial activity by MTT assay, for apoptosis by caspase 3 assay, for cytokine secretion by solid phase ELISA, for overall antioxidant capacity by ferric reducing antioxidant power and Oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays (epidermis) or by cyclic voltammetry (external medium), and for uric acid (UA) content by HPLC.
Results:  We report that UVB irradiation decreases cell viability, total antioxidant capacity and UA contents in the epidermis of skin organ cultures, while increasing the levels of apoptosis in cells and their cytokine secretion. Topical application of Dermud™ decreased all these effects significantly.
Conclusions:  Our results clearly show that Dermud™ has protective, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can antagonize biological effects of UVB irradiation in skin. It may therefore be able to reduce skin photodamage and photoaging, and more generally to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in skin pathologies.     

Transepidermal water loss after photodynamic therapy, UVB radiation and topical corticosteroid is independent of inflammation

Background/purpose: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and ultraviolet radiation cause an inflammatory reaction of the skin. This may lead to disruption of the skin barrier function. We examined the acute effect of PDT and short-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVB) on the barrier function of the epidermis. Furthermore, we explored the effect on the skin barrier of topical corticosteroid previous to UVB exposure.
Methods: Eight patients with acne vulgaris of the face were treated with PDT two times, and eight patients were left untreated. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured before treatment and at three control visits after PDT over 12 weeks. Twenty healthy volunteers were irradiated with UVB in two areas on the back. One area was treated with topical high-potency corticosteroid before irradiation. TEWL was measured before, 15 min and 24 h after UVB exposure.
Results: TEWL did not differ significantly between the various visits in each acne group and no significant difference in the TEWL between PDT-treated patients and the control group was found at any visit ( P >0.05). TEWL was not significantly altered 15 min and 24 h after a single exposure to UVB and no positive relationship was found between UV-induced erythema and change in TEWL ( P >0.05). Application of topical corticosteroid before UVB did not affect the skin barrier function significantly ( P >0.05).
Conclusion: Neither PDT nor a single exposure to UVB damaged the permeability barrier function of the skin and no effect on the TEWL was found when topical corticosteroid was applied previous to UVB irradiation.     

Suberythemal ultraviolet B radiation alters the expression of cell cycle-related proteins in the epidermis of human subjects without leading to photoprotection

Background  Deregulation of the cell cycle proteins is one of the critical factors leading to cutaneous carcinogenesis.
Objectives  To monitor the expression of cell cycle proteins in the epidermis of subjects after repeated exposure to ultraviolet (UV) B radiation, and to test for the development of photoprotection by subsequent irradiation with a single erythemal UVB dose.
Methods  A total of 26 healthy volunteers were divided into four groups: group 1 ( n  =   9) were given whole-body UVB irradiation for 10 consecutive days with 0·7 minimal erythema dose (MED), group 2 ( n  =   9) were irradiated as in group 1 followed 24 h later by a single UVB dose of 3 MED on buttock skin, group 3 ( n  =   4) were irradiated with a UVB dose of 3 MED on buttock skin, and group 4 ( n  =   4) were not irradiated. Skin biopsies were collected 24 h after the final irradiation and stained for cyclins A, B1, D1, and p16, p18, p21, p27, p53, pRB, Bax and Bcl-2.
Results  The expression of cyclin D1, p18 and p21 was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 compared with the nonirradiated group 4 controls and, in group 2, the expression of pRB, p53 and Bax was also increased. In group 3, only p53 and Bax proteins were significantly elevated compared with group 4. The expression of cyclin D1, p16, p18, p27, pRB and Bcl-2 was higher in group 2 compared with group 3.
Conclusions  Suberythemal UVB radiation was sufficient to cause changes in the expression of several epidermal cell cycle proteins. When tested by irradiation with a single erythemal UVB dose following the repeated exposures, no photoprotection against the UV-induced alteration in cell cycle protein expression was apparent.     

CD40 ligation during dendritic cell maturation reduces cell death and prevents interleukin-10-induced regression to macrophage-like monocytes

Abstract:  Dendritic cells (DCs) have become popular candidates in cancer vaccination because of their crucial role in inducing T-cell responses. However, clinical studies greatly differ in their protocols for generating DCs and the efficacy in treating established tumors needs to be improved. We systematically analyzed DCs maturated by five different protocols for surface markers, the alloproliferative T-cell response, the DC survival after cytokine deprivation, the stability of surface markers under the influence of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and the DC cytokine secretion pattern. Monocyte-derived DCs were maturated by CD40-ligand (CD40-L), unmethylated cytosine–guanosine dinucleotides-oligodinucleotides (CpG-ODN), an inflammatory cytokine cocktail (ICC), a combination of ICC and CD40-L, or ICC, CD40-L and CpG-ODN. A high co-expression of DC maturation and costimulation markers was found after treatment with ICC plus CD40-L (69.3 ± 9.6% CD83/CD80 double positive staining) and correlated with a significantly increased cell survival, a high expression of the antiapoptotic factor bcl-_XL, a stable CD83^high/CD14^low expression under the influence of IL-10, and a strong alloproliferative T-cell response. In conclusion, our data support the use of maturation protocols containing ICC plus CD40-L in order to generate highly mature, phenotypically stable, cell-death resistant, and T-cell stimulatory DCs for clinical application in cancer patients.     

紫外线对皮肤角质形成细胞和成纤维细胞产生MMP-1和MMP-3的影响

目的:研究中波紫外线辐射对体外培养的表皮角质形成细胞和真皮成纤维细胞产生基质金属蛋白酶-1(MMP-1)和MMP-3的直接和间接影响,研究绿茶中的主要活性成分表没食子儿茶酚没食子酸酯(EGCG)对此影响的保护作用。方法:体外培养角质形成细胞株HaCaT和真皮成纤维细胞,中波紫外线辐射、不同浓度IL-6刺激及EGCG处理后,ELISA方法测定上清液中Pro-MMP-1和MMP-3蛋白含量,半定量RT-PCR方法测细胞中mRNA含量。结果:UVB30mJ/cm2辐射后角质形成细胞分泌的pro-MMP-1和MMP-3并未增加(P>0.05),真皮成纤维细胞合成和分泌MMP-1和MMP-3mRNA含量和蛋白水平均显著增加(P<0.05),IL-6(8、16、24pg/mL)可显著增加成纤维细胞产生MMP-1和MMP-3(P<0.05)。EGCG(0.15、0.3mM)能够显著抑制紫外线诱导成纤维细胞产生MMP含量的增加(P<0.05),但IL-6刺激成纤维细胞所产生的MMP-1和MMP-3的增加不受EGCG的影响(P>0.05)。结论:中波紫外线辐射并不能直接导致角质形成细胞分泌MMP-1和MMP-3增加,但紫外线辐射后角质形成细胞分泌的IL-6可促进成纤维细胞产生MMP。EGCG对IL-6刺激成纤维细胞产生MMP增加没有影响,但它可以显著抑制紫外线辐射直接导致的成纤维细胞产生MMP-1和MMP-3的增加,对防治皮肤光老化可能有一定作用。     

Mitigation of acute ultraviolet B radiation-mediated damages by baicalin in mouse skin

Background: Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, in particular UVB with a wavelength range between 290 and 320 nm, induces different hazardous effects on the skin, including sunburn, photoaging and cancer. Protection against sun-induced damage is therefore a highly desirable goal. Chemoprevention is being investigated as a potential approach for the management of UV damages including skin cancer.
Aim: In this study, to determine the relevance of our in vitro findings to in vivo situations, we assessed the effects of baicalin on UVB-mediated damages in mice skin.
Methods: Balb/C hairless mice were topically pretreated (24 h before UVB) or post-treated (5 min after UVB) with baicalin (1 mg/cm² skin area/mouse/100 μl acetone) and were exposed to UVB 24 h later (180 mJ/cm²). The animals were sacrificed 1 and 24 h after the UVB exposure. Skin edema, histopathology changes, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs)-positive cells were assessed to determine the UVB-induced photodamage.
Results: Our data demonstrated that a topical application of baicalin, either as a pretreatment or as a post-treatment, resulted in a significant decrease in UVB mediated increases in skin edema, skin hyperplasia and infiltration of leukocytes. Further, baicalin treatments (pre and post) also resulted in a significant decrease in UVB mediated (1) generation of H₂O₂ and (2) formation of DNA photolesions: CPDs.
Conclusion: Based on these data, we suggest that baicalin could be developed as an agent for the management of conditions elicited by UV exposure including skin cancer.     

鳞状细胞癌细胞系12F细胞中白介素1αmRNA的表达及对紫外线照射的反应

目的 了解人角质形成细胞(KC)起源的鳞状细胞癌细胞系(SCC)12F细胞自发表达白介素1α(IL-1α)mRNA的能力以及紫外线照射对IL-1α分泌水平的影响。方法 采用RNA印迹法检测IL-1αmRNA的表达水平,采用ELISA方法检测IL-1α蛋白的分泌水平。结果 SCC12F细胞可在正常KC培养体系中自发表达IL-1αmRNA,其表达水平随细胞培养时间的延长而增强,在120h达到高峰值;经中波紫外线(UVB)照射后,IL-1α蛋白的分泌水平既随照射时间增加,亦随照射剂量增加。结论 SCC12F细胞在正常KC培养体系中可自发表达IL-1αmRNA,其IL-1α蛋白的分泌水平对UVB照射呈时效及量效反应。     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯减轻UVB诱导的朗格汉斯细胞凋亡作用

目的 研究中波紫外线(UVB)对人表皮朗格汉斯细胞(LC)的光损伤作用以及绿茶活性成分表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)的光保护作用。方法 采用密度梯度离心和免疫磁珠的方法分离纯化人表皮LC,将分离纯化的LC随机分为对照组、30 mJ/cm² UVB辐射组以及辐射后加用200μg/mL EGCG处理组,4h后以PI染色并经流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率。结果 30 mJ/cm² UVB辐射组的凋亡率明显高于对照组,EGCG干预组的凋亡率低于单纯UVB辐射组,但仍高于非照射对照组;且辐射后S期细胞数明显增加。几乎没有G₂/M期的细胞,EGCG处理辐射细胞后,S期细胞数减少。结论 UVB可诱导人表皮LC凋亡,而EGCG具有一定的保护作用。     

Mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular stress progression after ultraviolet B irradiation in human keratinocytes

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the major environmental harmful factor that affects human skin. UVB radiation is known to be a potent inducer of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and has also been associated with the generation of nitric oxide (NO), all of which have been implicated in various skin disorders. It is well known that mitochondria can also be affected by UVB, leading to alterations in their membrane structure and permeabilization with cytochrome c release, which consequently affects the cell function. However, the loss of keratinocyte mitochondrial function generated by UVB, as well as its kinetics, has not been characterized completely.
Methods: We evaluated the effect of UVB irradiation on HaCat cells' mitochondrial function, assessed by membrane potential loss and superoxide anion (O₂^•−) production, correlating with apoptosis, p53 expression, ROS levels and NO production, 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post-irradiation.
Results: HaCat cells progressed toward apoptotic cell death as the time post-irradiation increased, with the highest levels found 48 h after irradiation. Increased levels of ROS were observed 6 h after irradiation while high O₂^•− levels and mitochondrial membrane depolarization were detected 12 h post-UVB. Nevertheless, NO production was not significantly increased at any of the evaluated times.
Conclusions: The kinetics of mitochondrial dysfunction after UVB irradiation in human keratinocytes progressed in a time post-irradiation-dependent manner, and they are closely related to cell death. However, there are certain levels of apoptosis, although low, in the absence of mitochondrial alterations. In addition, our data suggest that ROS play a greater role in keratinocyte UVB damage than reactive nitrogen species.     

p38 Mitogen-Activated protein kinase mediates dual role of ultraviolet B radiation in induction of maturation and apoptosis of monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Although ultraviolet B (UVB) induces apoptosis and functional perturbations in dendritic cells (DC), for example, Langerhans cells (LC), it also stimulates some LC into maturation after irradiation in vivo. To analyze its reciprocal effects on DC, we elucidated the direct effect of UVB on DC in vitro using human monocyte-derived DC (MoDC). UVB from 50 to 200 J per m2 stimulated the maturation of MoDC with (1) augmented expression of CD86 and HLA-DR, (2) enhanced production of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha at both the mRNA and protein levels, and (3) enhanced allostimulatory capacity on a per-cell basis, whereas the exceeded doses induced apoptotic cell death. Western-blot analysis of MoDC after UVB demonstrated a concentration-dependent phosphorylation of p38- and c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), but not that of extracellular signal-regulated kinases. p38 MAPK-inhibitor, SB203580, inhibited both UVB-induced maturation and apoptosis of MoDC. Interestingly, MoDC that had undergone apoptosis exhibited an augmented expression of HLA-DR without upregulation of CD86 antigen, suggesting their tolerogenic phenotype. Thus, our study revealed a dual effect of UVB, to stimulate maturation or to induce apoptosis in MoDC, depending on the dosage, via p38 MAPK pathway.     

Skin-infiltrating monocytes/macrophages migrate to draining lymph nodes and produce IL-10 after contact sensitizer exposure to UV-irradiated skin

Low-dose UVB exposure induces antigen-specific unresponsiveness to antigen(s) introduced through UV-irradiated skin (tolerance). Analysis of cytokine expression in murine draining lymph nodes (DLNs) revealed that IL-12p40 mRNA and protein expression as well as IL-12p70 protein were upregulated after application of the contact sensitizer 2,4 dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB) to normal skin. The cellular source of IL-12p40 mRNA was CD11c+ cells. By contrast, following DNFB application to UV-irradiated skin (UV+DNFB), IL-12p40 mRNA was not upregulated, and DLN IL-12p40 and p70 proteins were reduced. UVB irradiation alone did not upregulate IL-10 mRNA, but UV+DNFB upregulated IL-10 mRNA as early as 3-6 hours after DNFB application, immediately preceding a decrease of IL-12p40 mRNA from the level induced by UVB. The infiltration of F4/80+ cells into UV-irradiated skin was followed by a rapid and remarkable increase of F4/80+CD11c(-) cells in DLN 3 hours following DNFB application. FITC/DNFB skin painting and subsequent enzyme-linked immunospot assay demonstrated that flow-sorted FITC+F4/80+CD11c(-) cells from the DLN produce IL-10. Thus, monocytes/macrophages that infiltrated into the skin following UVB exposure migrate to the DLN triggered by contact sensitizers. Production of IL-10 by migrating macrophages, in conjunction with IL-12 inhibition in the DLN, likely reflects a role as mobile suppressive mediators for locally induced UV tolerance.     

Neutrophils infiltrating ultraviolet B-irradiated normal human skin display high IL-10 expression

Exposure to an erythemal dose of ultraviolet B (UVB) is known to induce interleukin (IL-10) expression in human skin. It is generally believed that this IL-10 is predominantly expressed by CD11b⁺HLA-DR⁺ macrophages that infiltrate the UVB-exposed skin. This cytokine is presumed to contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of UVB by inhibiting cell-mediated immune responses. We recently demonstrated that neutrophils, which also invade UVB-irradiated skin, express CD11b and HLA-DR as well. In addition, we showed that the presence of these neutrophils affects T-cell responses in primary T-cell cultures derived from UVB-exposed skin. Since neutrophils invade UVB-exposed skin and, like macrophages, express CD11b and HLA-DR, we sought to determine whether neutrophils represent another source of IL-10. Skin biopsies were obtained from four healthy volunteers before and 2 days after exposure to four minimal erythema doses of UVB. A series of immunohistochemical double-staining procedures using the following markers was performed: IL-10, CD11b, HLA-DR, CD36, neutrophil elastase, and CD66b. As expected IL-10 could be detected in CD11b⁺HLA-DR⁺CD36⁺ macrophages in the epidermis and dermis of UVB-exposed skin. Surprisingly, the majority of the abundant IL-10 expression was found in CD11b⁺HLA-DR⁺elastase⁺CD66b⁺ neutrophils. Cytospin preparations from dermal cell suspensions confirmed the IL-10 expression by neutrophils displaying characteristic multilobular nuclei. Thus, neutrophils in UVB-exposed skin express IL-10 and should be recognized as active coplayers in the creation of the UVB-induced immunosuppressive microenvironment.     

Serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 in patients with psoriasis treated by the Goeckerman regimen

Background  The Goeckerman regimen (GR) involves the dermal application of a crude coal tar (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, PAH) and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Both PAH and UV radiation exhibit immunosuppressive activity. This study describes the changes in the serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in patients with psoriasis ( n  = 55) treated with GR.
Methods  The serum levels of IL-12 and IL-10 were compared before and after GR. In addition, the IL-12 and IL-10 levels in psoriatic patients were compared with those in a control group of healthy blood donors ( n  = 47). The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to evaluate the efficacy of GR.
Results  When compared with the control group, both IL-12 and IL-10 were significantly higher in psoriatic patients in all cases ( P  < 0.001). When compared before and after GR, the IL-12 and IL-10 levels ( P  < 0.01) and PASI value ( P  < 0.001) were significantly lower after GR. The decrease in the serum level of IL-12 and IL-10 after GR was related to the entry value before GR (IL-12, r  = 0.60, P  < 0.001; IL-10, r  = 0.36, P  < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between the IL-10 level before GR and the PASI value after GR ( r  = –0.39; P  < 0.01).
Conclusions  The results indicate a strong pro-inflammatory effect of IL-12 in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis, and confirm the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effect of GR. IL-10 seems to be a promising individual marker for a positive effect of GR therapy.     

UVB致成纤维细胞损伤及两种中药的保护作用研究

目的观察中波紫外线(UVB)辐射后成纤维细胞(FB)DNA光产物环丁烷嘧啶二聚体(CPD s)产生和清除情况及表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)和黄芩甙的干预作用。方法以30,60,90 m J/cm2UVB照射FB并予EGCG及黄芩甙干预处理,采用免疫细胞化学法在照光后不同时间检测CPD s的产生和清除情况。结果细胞损伤程度随照光剂量加大而加重;30 m J/cm2UVB照射后细胞CPD s生成量在辐射后1 h左右达到高峰,同时细胞也开始清除CP-D s,辐射后4 h内清除速率较快,4 h后清除速率逐渐降低,至24 h基本清除CPD s;EGCG和黄芩甙处理UVB辐射的细胞CPD s少于单纯照光组(P<0.05)。结论UVB辐射可以导致FB的DNA损伤而产生光产物CPD s;细胞损伤程度显示剂量依赖性;细胞自身有修复能力;EGCG和黄芩甙均可降低UVB辐射所致的光产物水平。     

Age-related differences in sensitivity of peripheral blood monocytes to lipopolysaccharide and Staphylococcus aureus toxin B in atopic dermatitis

As shown by atopy patch tests, atopic dermatitis (AD) is dominated in its acute phase by the development of a specific T(H)2 response after exposure of the skin to common environmental antigens. Relying on our previous data showing that Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) induced the activation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) through Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and that SEB-pulsed DCs commit allogenic naive T cells into T(H)2, we assessed monocytes sensitivity to SEB and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a group of children and adult patients with AD. Monocytes from AD patients (15 adults with mostly severe disease and 15 children with mild to moderate disease) exhibited an activated and tolerant state as supported by (i) secretion of large amounts of IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha even in the absence of stimulation; (ii) their inability to modulate neither HLA-DR and CD54 nor TLR2 and TLR4 expression after in vitro challenge with SEB; (iii) inhibition of IL-12p70 secretion in response to LPS. Interestingly, monocytes from some of the children studied responded to in vitro challenge with LPS, suggesting new hypotheses to explain disease regression. Our data support the notion that monitoring sensitivity of monocytes to bacterial toxins could prove useful to assess disease progression and prognosis in AD.     

Narrowband–UVB irradiation decreases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by stimulated T cells

Narrow-band ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy is an effective treatment for psoriasis. Owing to its limited penetration, the direct effects of UVB are mostly restricted to cells residing in the epidermis and papillary dermis, and are associated with epidermal depletion of Langerhans’ cells (LC) and T cells. It has been argued that the depletion of the skin-resident T-cell population may be due to a combination of UVB-induced apoptosis and decreased recruitment from the blood due to lower expression of the required adhesion and homing molecules. We have previously demonstrated that UVB treatment can alter the expression of adhesion molecules by blood lymphocytes, and as these can be influenced by cytokines, the aim of this study was to investigate whether UVB irradiation can also influence the cytokine production of circulating T cells. Four patients with active chronic plaque psoriasis were treated daily with narrow-band 312 nm UVB irradiation and blood samples obtained before treatment and weekly thereafter for 2 weeks. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and cultured with a streptococcal superantigen or a conventional streptococcal antigen preparation, and cell culture supernatants were assayed for various cytokines. When stimulated with the superantigen, PBMCs from UVB-treated psoriasis patients secreted greater amounts of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and showed markedly decreased production of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5 and IL-6 compared to the pre-treatment values; the production of IFN-γ, IL-8 and IL-12p70 were also decreased but did not reach statistical significance. Thus, the combination of UVB-induced apoptosis, increased secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines and decreased trafficking to the skin may help to explain the beneficial effects of UVB treatment on psoriasis and why disease remission can sometimes be sustained for a prolonged period.     

Ultraviolet-B irradiation decreases IFN-gamma and increases IL-4 expression in psoriatic lesional skin in situ and in cultured dermal T cells derived from these lesions

Type 1 cytokine producing T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation is effective in the treatment of this disease. In normal skin, UVB causes a change in dermal microenvironment, leading to a decrease of IFN-gamma expressing type 1 T cells and a concurrent increase of IL-4 expressing type 2 T cells. The aim of this study was to show whether UVB irradiation causes a like-wise shift of type 1 and type 2 responses in psoriatic skin. For this purpose, biopsies were obtained from the lesional skin of psoriatic patients before, 2 days and 14 days after a single exposure to 4 MED UVB. Sections from these biopsies were immunostained (CD3, IFN-gamma and IL-4) or RNA was extracted and analyzed for the expressions of IFN-gamma and IL-4 by PCR. In addition, primary cultures of T cells from dermal cell suspensions were stained intracellularly for IFN-gamma and IL-4 expression and CD4+ and CD8+ T subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. IFN-gamma was abundantly expressed in situ before irradiation and decreased in all patients after UVB irradiation, whereas IL-4 expression was variably expressed before irradiation and increased in different degrees after irradiation. Cytokine mRNA expressions determined by PCR showed a clear decrease of IFN-gamma and increase of IL-4 following UVB irradiation. Both CD4+ and CD8+ dermal T cells were found to produce less IFN-gamma and more IL-4 following UVB irradiation as determined by flow cytometry. Decrease in IFN-gamma expression and increase in IL-4 expression of dermal T cells in psoriatic lesions after UVB irradiation may lead to decrease in local immunoreactivity. These changes could be part of the therapeutic effects of UVB on psoriasis.     

Effects of monomethylfumarate on dendritic cell differentiation

BACKGROUND: Fumaric acid esters (FAE) are effective against psoriasis vulgaris and monomethylfumarate (MMF) is believed to be the most bioactive metabolite of this medication. Earlier we found that the beneficial effects of FAE medication are accompanied by a downregulation of type 1 cytokine production by T-helper (Th) lymphocytes, which are important as they maintain a type 1 cytokine [interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-2] environment in the skin lesions of psoriasis vulgaris patients and once maximal beneficial effects are obtained type 2 cytokine production is also decreased. In vitro MMF selectively induced type 2 cytokine production by primed Th lymphocytes, whereas type 1 cytokine production by and profileration of T lymphocytes were unaffected. OBJECTIVES: As dendritic cells (DCs) present in these skin lesions play a key role in the activation of Th lymphocytes, we investigated the effects of MMF on monocyte-derived DC differentiation. METHODS: Monocytes were differentiated into immature (i) DCs by cytokines with or without MMF. To establish whether these cells were differentiated into iDCs, we analysed the expression of cell surface molecules on these cells and the capacity to capture antigens using flow cytometry. Next, we determined whether these MMF-incubated (MMF-)iDCs could be matured by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and whether MMF affected this responsiveness as well. For this purpose we measured cytokine production by these LPS-stimulated cells (MMF-DCs) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays as well as their ability to activate naive Th lymphocytes. RESULTS: The presence of MMF during the differentiation of monocytes into iDCs resulted in cells that retained low levels of CD14 and hardly expressed CD1a. Upon maturation, these MMF-iDCs upregulated CD83 and costimulatory molecules and HLA-DR on their surface, indicating that these cells respond to LPS, albeit less than control iDCs. In addition, in response to LPS, MMF-iDCs did not decrease the capacity to capture antigens when compared with control iDCs. MMF-DCs hardly produced IL-12p70 and IL-10 and low levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, whereas IL-8 produced by MMF-DCs and control DCs did not differ. Moreover, MMF-DCs were less able to induce IFN-gamma production by naive Th lymphocytes compared with control DCs. The production of IL-4 and IL-10 by naive Th lymphocytes cocultured with MMF-DCs did not differ from that by T cells cocultured with control DCs. CONCLUSIONS: MMF inhibited the monocyte-derived DC differentiation resulting in cells that cannot be appropriately matured to DCs. Consequently, these MMF-DCs are less effective than control DCs in stimulating type 1 cytokine, but not type 2 cytokine production, in Th lymphocytes. This general immunomodulatory effect may in part explain the beneficial effects of FAE therapy in psoriasis.