title: The greater lethality of UVB radiation to cultured human cells is associated with the specific activation of a DNA damage-independent signaling pathway.
abstract: UV radiation causes cell death through the activation of various intracellular signaling molecules in both DNA damage-dependent and -independent manners. The ability of middle-wavelength UV (UVB) radiation to form DNA photoproducts is less than that of short-wavelength UV (UVC) radiation; however, the differences between UVB and UVC radiation in the extent of DNA damage-independent signaling and its contribution to cell death have not been well characterized. When cells were irradiated with UVB or UVC radiation at doses that generated equivalent amounts of DNA photoproducts, UVB radiation induced more clonogenic cell death, apoptotic cells, mitochondrial cytochrome C release, and intracellular oxidative stress. Among the signaling molecules examined, levels of p53 phosphorylated at Ser-392 and p38 were higher in UVB-irradiated cells than in UVC-irradiated cells. Both phosphorylations were reduced by treating cells with an antioxidant. Furthermore, an inhibitor of p38 also blocked the phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-392. These results suggest that UVB radiation activates the p38 pathway through the generation of oxidative stress, which merges with the DNA p53 pathway by phosphorylation of p53 at ser392. This greater contribution of the DNA damage-independent pathway in UVB-irradiated cells may explain the greater lethality of UVB radiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Biology and Protection, Center for Frontier Life Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horikawa-Miura
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: C502592:SUPT20H protein, human; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D004247:DNA