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Urocanic acid isomers in human skin: analysis of site variation
Author(s) -
KAVANAGH G.,
CROSBY J.,
NORVAL M.
Publication year - 1995
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.1365-2133.1995.tb02746.x
Subject(s) - urocanic acid , stratum corneum , chemistry , photoisomerization , immunosuppression , ultraviolet radiation , biology , biochemistry , genetics , isomerization , immunology , amino acid , radiochemistry , histidine , catalysis
Summary Urocanic acid (UCA) is found in the stratum corneum as the trans ‐isomer and, on ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, photoisomerization into cis ‐UCA takes place. Cis ‐UCA has been suggested to play a part in UV‐induced immunosuppression. In the present study, the concentration of UCA and the percentage as cis ‐UCA at 10 different body sites of 20 normal volunteers were analysed. A large interindividual variation in total UCA concentration was found, but the mean UCA concentration in each site was similar, other than at the sole of the foot. There was little variation in the UCA content between sites normally exposed, and not exposed, to light, but the percentage of UCA in the cis form was clearly higher at exposed areas.