title: Studies to determine the immunomodulating effects of cis-urocanic acid.
abstract: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly the UVB wavelengths, leads not only to DNA damage but also to suppression of cell-mediated immunity to antigens encountered shortly after the irradiation. One initiator of this complex process is cis-urocanic acid (cis-UCA), which is formed from the naturally occurring trans isomer in the epidermis on absorption of UV. cis-UCA has been shown to have immunomodulating properties in a variety of in vivo and in vitro experimental systems, although its mechanism of action is not yet clear. This article covers methods of preparing cis-UCA and of analyzing UCA isomers in various human and mouse tissues. Experiments that demonstrate that cis-UCA is immunosuppressive are described. The final section deals with the preparation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody with specificity for cis-UCA.
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Scotland, UK. m.norval@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norval
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Ghorr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014560:Urocanic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014560:Urocanic Acid