title: Ultraviolet B radiation and reactive oxygen species modulate interleukin-31 expression in T lymphocytes, monocytes and dendritic cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin (IL)-31 is a novel Th2 T-cell cytokine that induces pruritus and dermatitis in transgenic mice. While enhanced mRNA expression of this cytokine is detected in skin samples of inflammatory skin diseases, the regulation of IL-31 expression is poorly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of ultraviolet (UV) B radiation and H₂O₂ on IL-31 mRNA and protein expression in skin and different peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of UVB radiation and H₂O₂, as a prototypic reactive oxygen species, on IL-31 mRNA and protein expression were analysed in various inflammation-related cells and murine skin tissue. RESULTSTreatment of cells with UVB radiation and H₂ O₂ strongly induced IL-31 mRNA and protein expression in human PBMCs and in the skin of SKH-1 mice. Following exposure to UVB or H₂O₂, we observed increased expression of IL-31 mRNA in T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and immature and especially mature dendritic cells. H₂O₂ treatment but not UVB radiation led to a moderate upregulation of IL-31 mRNA expression in epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Pretreatment of T lymphocytes with the MAPK p38 inhibitor SB203580 or the MEK1 inhibitor U0126 reduced the stimulatory effect of H₂O₂. These experiments suggest that p38 is involved in the regulation of IL-31 expression in human skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our studies reveal that UVB and reactive oxygen species stimulate the expression of IL-31 in PBMCs and skin, especially in T cells, monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, IZKF Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brans
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Czaja
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skazik
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Marquardt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zwadlo-Klarwasser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bickers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lüscher-Firzlaff
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lüscher
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide