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In‐vivo studies of the action spectrum and time course for release of transforming growth factor‐α by ultraviolet irradiation in man
Author(s) -
MURPHY GILLIAN M.,
QUINN D.G.,
CAMP R.D.R.,
HAWK J.L.M.,
GREAVES M.W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1991.tb14795.x
Subject(s) - epidermis (zoology) , in vivo , transforming growth factor , human skin , dermis , cytokine , psoriasis , hyperplasia , epidermal growth factor , growth factor , irradiation , biology , chemistry , pathology , endocrinology , medicine , immunology , cell culture , anatomy , physics , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , nuclear physics , genetics
Summary Transforming growth factor‐α (TGF‐α) is a growth‐promoting cytokine which enhances epithelial proliferation and is secreted by a wide variety of tumour cells. It is also present in normal human epidermis and its overproduction may be responsible for epidermal hyperproliferation in psoriasis. Ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation of human skin leads to epidermal damage and significant subsequent hyperplasia after approximately 24 h. whereas UVA irradiation has little such effect and predominantly damages the dermis. The relative efficacies of UVB and UVA in releasing TGF‐α were studied in 10 subjects of skin types I and II using a skin‐chamber technique and a specific TGF‐α radioimmunoassay. Significantly elevated concentrations of immunoreactive TGF‐α were detected in samples after 24 h in UVB‐irradiated compared with unirradiated skin. Samples at earlier time points from UVB‐ and UVA‐exposed skin contained measurable levels of TGF‐α but these were not significantly elevated above the levels found in samples from unirradiated areas. These results, which suggest that UVB irradiation increases release of TGF‐α from human skin at 24 h, indicate that TGF‐α may be implicated in UVB‐induced epidermal hyperplasia.