title: Immunomodulatory effects of ultraviolet B irradiation on atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common pruritic inflammatory skin disease, which occurs primarily in childhood. Recently, narrow-band ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy has been used to treat AD, but the mechanism involved is unknown. In this study, we investigated whether UVB irradiation influences AD in the NC/Nga mouse.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mice were separated into three groups: control, AD-control (immunized with mite antigens), and AD+UVB-irradiated (immunized with mite antigens and UVB irradiation) groups. The mice in the irradiation group were exposed to 1 kJ/m(2)/day twice a week from 6 to 12 weeks of age. Animals in the control and AD-control groups were shaved, but not irradiated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the AD+UVB-irradiated group, the atopy score, ear thickness, and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) were increased in comparison with the AD-control group. On day 40, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-10 in the spleen lymphocytes were significantly increased compared with the AD-control group, resulting in a marked decrease of the interferon (IFN)-gamma/IL-4 ratio compared with the AD-control group. In addition, the levels of IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and NO(x) production by peritoneal macrophages were significantly elevated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that UVB irradiation promotes the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan. j3105709@ed.noda.tus.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mutou
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ibuki
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004423:Ear / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma