Why is polymorphous light eruption so common in young women?
Despite the fact that polymorphous light eruption (PLE) is the most common photodermatosis, affecting 15% of healthy people in the UK, its pathogeny remains unclear. The condition is more frequent in females and begins often in young adults and in mid-adult life. The mechanism of PLE is under active research as shown by recent results, and it is hypothesized that in PLE patients, there is a partial failure of ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression, causing an abnormal response to autologous antigens generated by ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The recent demonstration that the female hormone, 17beta-estradiol prevents UVR-induced suppression of the contact hypersensitivity response caused by the release of immunosuppressive cytokines (IL-10) from keratinocytes might thus explain why the risk of PLE is higher in females than in males and why the risk decreases in women after the menopause.
Aubin
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D017454:Dermatitis, Photoallergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D001324:Autoantigens