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Immunomodulatory effects of ultraviolet B irradiation on atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice
Author(s) -
Mutou Yasuko,
Ibuki Yuko,
Kojima Shuji
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2007.00297.x
Subject(s) - atopy , atopic dermatitis , immunology , immunoglobulin e , scratching , medicine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , house dust mite , ultraviolet b , allergy , interleukin 4 , antigen , antibody , cytokine , dermatology , physics , acoustics
Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common pruritic inflammatory skin disease, which occurs primarily in childhood. Recently, narrow‐band ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy has been used to treat AD, but the mechanism involved is unknown. In this study, we investigated whether UVB irradiation influences AD in the NC/Nga mouse. Methods: The mice were separated into three groups: control, AD‐control (immunized with mite antigens), and AD+UVB‐irradiated (immunized with mite antigens and UVB irradiation) groups. The mice in the irradiation group were exposed to 1 kJ/m 2 /day twice a week from 6 to 12 weeks of age. Animals in the control and AD‐control groups were shaved, but not irradiated. Results: In the AD+UVB‐irradiated group, the atopy score, ear thickness, and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) were increased in comparison with the AD‐control group. On day 40, the levels of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐10 in the spleen lymphocytes were significantly increased compared with the AD‐control group, resulting in a marked decrease of the interferon (IFN)‐γ/IL‐4 ratio compared with the AD‐control group. In addition, the levels of IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and NO x production by peritoneal macrophages were significantly elevated. Conclusion: These results indicate that UVB irradiation promotes the development of AD‐like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.