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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Primary mechanisms of photosensitization by furocoumarins

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6232675
A proper understanding of the PUVA therapy action mechanism requires the synthesis of concepts developed at the level of molecules, single cells and whole organisms. Although progress has been made in identifying key factors within each level of organization, the interrelationships remain obscure. Important unanswered questions at the molecular and cellular levels include: (1) Which excited states of the furocoumarin in molecule (triplet or excited singlet) are involved in the formation of DNA monoadducts, and the conversion of monoadducts to cross-links. (2) How does the spectrum of the incident radiation affect the distribution of the initial photochemical products from the PUVA sensitizers. (3) What are the relative contributions of furocoumarin-DMA monoadducts, furocoumarin-DNA cross-links and singlet oxygen to mutagenesis and lethality in cells, at the furocoumarin and UV-A dose levels corresponging to PUVA therapy. Additional information about these key aspects of furocoumarin photosensitization should lead to a more definitive relationship of the cellular level events to the endpoints observed with PUVA therapy, and suggest directions for potential improvements in the current clinical procedures.
Research Organization:
Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago (USA). Dept. of Physics
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AS02-76EV02217
OSTI ID:
6232675
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/02217-39; CONF-810716-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English