title: Mice with genetically determined high susceptibility to ultraviolet (UV)-induced immunosuppression show enhanced UV carcinogenesis.
abstract: To assess the premise that genetically determined differences in susceptibility to UV-induced immunosuppression are reflected in UV carcinogenesis, we investigated UV skin cancer induction in two strains of reciprocal F1 hybrid mice CB6F1 males with high susceptibility to UV immunosuppression and a BALB/c X-chromosome and B6CF1 males with low susceptibility to UV immunosuppression and a C57BL/6 X-chromosome. Four experimental groups comprising both strains treated three times weekly with two UV regimens (daily doses incremented from 2.25 to 6 or 4.5 to 12 kJ per m2) were monitored for skin tumor development. Survival without a skin tumor differed over the four groups (p < 0.0001) and differed according to UV regimen within each strain (p < 0.0005). Differences between strains were significant for the higher dose (p = 0.03) but not for the lower dose (p = 0.19) of UV, suggesting a dose-strain interaction. Comparing the higher UV dose regimen to the lower UV dose regimen within a strain at three reference points, tumor-free survival was reduced significantly more (p < 0.05) in the CB6F1 mice than in the B6CF1 mice. Histologic assessment of all tumors revealed fibrosarcomas, squamous carcinomas, and mixed tumors. Immunohistochemistry of the mixed tumors for vimentin, keratin, and E-cadherin confirmed the presence of squamous and fibrosarcomatous elements. The enhanced susceptibility to UV carcinogenesis of CB6F1 males treated with the higher UV protocol was attributable to a significantly enhanced proportion (p < 0.005) of mixed tumors. Analysis of the data by comparing the proportion of animals tumor free at three reference time points confirmed a dose-strain interaction only in the development of mixed tumors, putatively the malignantly advanced carcinomas (p < 0.03). A dose-strain interaction was also observed for systemic UV immunosuppression of contact hypersensitivity (p < 0.025). These findings support the concept that genetic differences in susceptibility to UV-induced immunosuppression may be a risk factor for skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Photobiology and Photoimmunology, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA. drmfpn@gwumc.edu
authors.forename: Frances P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.forename: H Konrad
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Fears
authors.forename: Donna F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kusewitt
authors.forename: Tracy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Edward C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: De Fabo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*