title: Photodynamic action of ultraviolet A: induction of cellular hydroperoxides.
abstract: Long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UVA) can cause cancer. A carcinogenic mechanism involved may be the induction of harmful reactive oxygen species resulting from photodynamic effects. UVA is generally assumed to induce photodynamic effects, but evidence from experiments with viable biological materials has been indirect until present. Here we measured the induction of (lipid) hydroperoxides as direct indicators of photodynamic reactions. Cultured human fibroblasts were irradiated with 10J UVA/cm2. The induced hydroperoxides were measured by an enzymatic method using glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase (GR). Additionally, reduced glutathione (GSH) was determined as parameter for the constitutive antioxidant defense. UVA was found to increase lipid hydroperoxides in fibroblasts by 116% (p < 0.001), when compared to nonirradiated controls. Conversely GSH was decreased in the irradiated cells by 51% (p < 0.001). Because of the induced hydroperoxides, it is concluded that the UVA effects were mediated by a photodynamic mechanism. The photodynamic mechanism resulted in the formation of reactive oxygen species and the consumption of constitutive antioxidants. This suggests a role for antioxidants during the photodynamic mechanism. Photodynamic mechanisms may play a crucial role in carcinogenic events, especially after UVA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Free University of Berlin, University Medical Center Steglitz, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garbe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jimbow
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wulff
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Orfanos
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000528:radiation effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione