Ultraviolet light protection by a sunscreen prevents interferon-driven skin inflammation in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light is an important exacerbating factor in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and induces various effects in the skin of patients with the disease, such as cell death and inflammation. Recently, we demonstrated the ability of a broad-spectrum sunscreen to prevent UV-induced damage both in patients with CLE and healthy controls (HCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the UV-dependent activation of interferon (IFN)-driven inflammation in CLE can also be prevented by application of the sunscreen. In 20 patients with different subtypes of CLE and 10 HCs, defined areas on the upper back were treated with a broad-spectrum liposomal sunscreen 20 min prior to a combined standardized UVA/UVB irradiation. Immunohistological analyses using antibodies directed against MxA, CD11c, CD123 and CD68 were performed from skin biopsies taken from areas before UV irradiation as well as from sunscreen-treated and sunscreen-untreated areas 24 and 72 h after UV irradiation. The expression of MxA was completely prevented by the sunscreen applied prior to UV irradiation in CLE patients and HCs. Additionally, sunscreen protection significantly diminished the number of the CD11c- and CD123-positive dendritic cells, which are suggested to be a major source of type I/III IFNs, in UV-irradiated skin of patients with CLE. Moreover, the application of the sunscreen prevented the increase in CD68-positive macrophages in both groups 72 h after UV irradiation. The data of this study demonstrate that UV protection reduces lesional tissue damage and inhibits the typical IFN-driven inflammatory response in CLE.
Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Sabine
S
Zahn
Medina
M
Graef
Nikolaos
N
Patsinakidis
Aysche
A
Landmann
Christian
C
Surber
Joerg
J
Wenzel
Annegret
A
Kuhn
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism*; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D039521:CD11c Antigen; D007372:Interferons; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit; D008081:Liposomes; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C115022:IL3RA protein, human; C579071:MX1 protein, human
UV irradiation; cutaneous lupus erythematosus; immunohistology; interferon; sunscreen