title: The effects of UVA-I (340-400 nm), UVA-II (320-340 nm) and UVA-I+II on the photoisomerization of urocanic acid in vivo.
abstract: Ultraviolet B radiation (280-320 nm) can systemically suppress contact hypersensitivity (CHS), delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and tumor rejection responses in mice. Several models have been postulated for the initiation of this UVB-induced immune suppression and, although the complete mechanism is unclear, our early studies suggested that initiation is via the activation of a photoreceptor in the skin, identified as urocanic acid (UCA). Recent preliminary data from our laboratory and others indicated that UVA (320-400 nm)-emitting broad-band sunlamps can also isomerize UCA but may not lead to immune suppression, in contrast to UVB-emitting sunlamps, which cause both effects. Although the reason for this inconsistency is unknown, the emission spectra of UVA lamps contain differing amounts of UVB, UVA-I (340-400 nm) and UVA-II (320-340 nm) from those of UVB sources. In this study we determined a detailed dose-response for the isomerization of UCA in mouse skin using the UVA-I, UVA-II and UVA-I+II wavelength ranges. The dose-response curves obtained were put on an equal energy basis by quantum correction and the possibility of wavelength interaction for this effect investigated. A simple additive wavelength interaction between UVA-I, UVA-II, and UVA-I+II was observed for trans-UCA photoisomerization. This result indicates that the failure of UVA-I, UVA-II or UVA-I+II radiation to induce immune suppression of the CHS response in an animal model is not due to complex wavelength interactions and/or the presence of an in vivo endogenous photosensitizer of UCA isomerization. Other factors, such as downstream blocking by UVA of the cis-UCA generated signal, may be involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whang
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: De Fabo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010777:Photochemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014560:Urocanic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D014560:Urocanic Acid