title: Modulation of c-jun and c-fos transcription by UVB and UVA radiations in human dermal fibroblasts and KB cells.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that the oxidizing component of ultraviolet-A (UVA) plays a central role in the activation of the nuclear oncogene and transcription factor, c-fos, in cultured human skin fibroblasts. We have now shown that expression of both c-jun and c-fos (AP-1) family of transcription factors is modulated by short and long wavelength solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in human fibroblasts and human KB cells. UVA radiation activated c-jun and c-fos in both fibroblasts and KB cells, whereas ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation activates such oncogenes only in KB cells. Moreover, decreasing the intracellular levels of reducing equivalents in human fibroblasts by glutathione (GSH) depletion lowered the UVA dose threshold for c-jun and c-fos activation several-fold and greatly amplified the UVA-mediated activation of such genes. A more modest effect was observed in GSH-depleted KB cells. In both GSH-depleted fibroblasts and KB cells, UVB radiation failed to amplify c-jun and c-fos activation indicating that the oxidative component of UVB plays a minor role in the modulation of such oncogene expression. These findings clearly indicate that both c-jun and c-fos are activated by the oxidizing component of UVA radiation in human fibroblasts and KB cells, while UVB-mediated modulation seems to be restricted to human epithelial cells and does not involve oxidizing intermediates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soriani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hejmadi
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016762:Genes, fos; D016758:Genes, jun; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays