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Mechanism of immune suppression by ultraviolet irradiation in vivo. I. Evidence for the existence of a unique photoreceptor in skin and its role in photoimmunology

Journal Article · · J. Exp. Med.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.158.1.84· OSTI ID:6748539
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UV irradiation of mice causes a systemic immune alteration that can be detected either by suppression of the immunologic rejection of UV-induced tumors, or by suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Suppression of these two immunologic responses has similar photobiologic characteristics and in both cases is associated with the generation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells. To identify whether a specific photoreceptor for this effect exists, the relative wavelength effectiveness (action spectrum) was determined for the UV-induced suppression of CHS. Narrow bands of UV (half bandwidth 3 nm) were used at 10 wavelengths from 250 to 320 nm to obtain dose-response curves. The action spectrum derived from the dose-response curves has a maximum between 260 and 270 nm, a shoulder at 280-290 nm, and declines steadily to approximately 3% of maximum at 320 nm. The finding of such a clearly defined wavelength dependence implies the presence of a specific photoreceptor for this effect. Removing the stratum corneum by tape stripping before UV irradiation prevented the suppression of CHS using 254-nm radiation, suggesting the photoreceptor is superficially located in the skin. The hypothesis is advanced that the photoreceptor for systemic UV-induced immunosuppression of contact hypersensitivity may be urocanic acid. As such, it may also play a role in UV-induced carcinogenesis via the production of tumor-specific suppressor cells.
Research Organization:
National Cancer Inst., Frederick Cancer Research Facility, MD
OSTI ID:
6748539
Journal Information:
J. Exp. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Exp. Med.; (United States) Vol. 158:1; ISSN JEMEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

551000 -- Physiological Systems
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AZOLES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
IMIDAZOLES
IMMUNOLOGY
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
IN VIVO
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICE
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RECEPTORS
RODENTS
SKIN
SOMATIC CELLS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
UROCANIC ACID
VERTEBRATES