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Photoprotective Effects of Bucillamine Against UV‐induced Damage in an SKH‐1 Hairless Mouse Model †
Author(s) -
Anwar Adil,
Gu Mallikarjuna,
Brady Sara,
Qamar Lubna,
Behbakht Kian,
Shellman Yiqun G.,
Agarwal Rajesh,
Norris David A.,
Horwitz Lawrence D.,
Fujita Mayumi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00288.x
Subject(s) - hairless , erythema , reactive oxygen species , dna damage , pharmacology , glutathione , chemistry , inflammation , photoaging , antioxidant , edema , acetylcysteine , endogeny , biochemistry , medicine , immunology , dermatology , dna , enzyme
Abstract UVB exposure of skin results in various biologic responses either through direct or indirect damage to DNA and non‐DNA cellular targets via the formation of free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation. Bucillamine [ N ‐(2‐mercapto‐2‐methylpropionyl)‐ l ‐cysteine] is a cysteine‐derived compound that can replenish endogenous glutathione due to its two donatable thiol groups, and functions as an antioxidant. In this study, we investigated the effects of bucillamine on UVB‐induced photodamage using the SKH‐1 hairless mouse model. We have demonstrated that UVB exposure (two consecutive doses, 230 mJ cm −2 ) on the dorsal skin of SKH‐1 mice induced inflammatory responses (edema, erythema, dermal infiltration of leukocytes, dilated blood vessels) and p53 activation as early as 6 h after the last UVB exposure. Bucillamine pretreatment (20 mg kg −1 of body weight, administered subcutaneously) markedly attenuated UVB‐mediated inflammatory responses and p53 activation. We have also demonstrated that the stabilization and upregulation of p53 by UVB correlated with phosphorylation of Ser‐15 and Ser‐20 residues of p53 protein and that bucillamine pretreatment attenuated this effect. We propose that bucillamine has potential to be effective as a photoprotective agent for the management of pathologic conditions elicited by UV exposure.