title: EPA attenuates ultraviolet radiation-induced downregulation of aquaporin-3 in human keratinocytes.
abstract: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) that protects against photodamage and photocarcinogenesis in mammals. Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a water/glycerol transport protein that is found in basal layer keratinocytes. In this study, we have investigated the protective effect of EPA against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced AQP3 downregulation in human keratinocytes. EPA treatment was found to increase AQP3 gene and protein expression in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT). Using a specific inhibitor, we observed that the effect of EPA on AQP3 expression was mediated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. UVB radiation induced AQP3 downregulation in HaCaT cells, and it was found that EPA treatment attenuated UVB-induced AQP3 reduction and the associated cell death. UVB-induced downregulation of AQP3 was blocked by EPA and p38 inhibitor SB203580. Collectively, the present results show that EPA increased AQP3 expression and that this led to a reduction UVB-induced photodamage.
authors.affiliation: BK21-plus Team, Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, 570-749, Jeollabukdo, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Kook
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Moon-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ghang-Tai
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kun-Kuk
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won-Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Yeun-Ja
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Mun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051400:Aquaporin 3 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: C496027:AQP3 protein, human; D051400:Aquaporin 3; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid