Immune surveillance and sunlight-induced skin cancer.
Immune surveillance poses the existence of a recirculating pool of lymphocytes that migrate randomly through somatic tissues. Upon recognition of neoantigens on malignantly transformed cells, lymphocytes proceed to attack and destroy degenerate cells before a tumor emerges. Here, J. Wayne Streilein and colleagues review the effects of ultraviolet B irradiation on the induction of cutaneous immunity in the skin of mice and humans. Furthermore, they discuss the possibility of a genetic predisposition to skin cancer, mediated by a defect in the normal process by which contact hypersensitivity, and therefore immunogenicity, is elicited.
Streilein
J W
JW
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA 02114.
Taylor
J R
JR
Vincek
V
V
Kurimoto
I
I
Shimizu
T
T
Tie
C
C
Golomb
C
C
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects