title: In vitro and in vivo ultraviolet-induced alterations of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin.
abstract: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation was found to convert oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin stoichiometrically into methemoglobin and a met-like product, respectively. The peak conversion efficiency for oxyhemoglobin occurred at 285 nm and decreased by a factor of 100 by 315 nm. The peak conversion efficiency for deoxyhemoglobin occurred at 290 nm and decreased by a factor of 30 by 320 nm. The transformation of oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin was also documented in intact erythrocytes using UV-B radiation. Finally, similar transformations were found to occur in human skin with UV-B exposure but not on all volunteers tested. These results imply that methemoglobin will be formed in vivo on solar exposure and provide evidence that UV-B photons reach the blood vessels.
authors.affiliation: Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kollias
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baqer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sayre
mesh_terms: D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010777:Photochemistry; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; C100003:deoxyhemoglobin; D008706:Methemoglobin