title: Photoimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: The ultraviolet (UV) radiation contained in sunlight is a powerful immune suppressant. While exposure to UV is best known for its ability to cause skin cancer, it is also associated with protection against a range of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). Although the precise mechanism by which sunlight affords protection from MS remains to be determined, some have hypothesised that UV immunosuppression explains the "latitude-gradient effect" associated with MS. By stimulating the release of soluble factors in exposed skin, UV activates immune suppressive pathways that culminate in the induction of regulatory cells in distant tissues. Each and every one of the immune suppressive cells and molecules activated by UV exposure are potential targets for treating and preventing MS. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved is therefore required if we are to realise the therapeutic potential of photoimmunology.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Photoimmunology Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.|Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.|Discipline of Dermatology, Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsh-Wakefield
authors.affiliation: Cellular Photoimmunology Group, Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia. scott.byrne@sydney.edu.au.|Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. scott.byrne@sydney.edu.au.|Discipline of Dermatology, Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia. scott.byrne@sydney.edu.au.|Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Level 5 (East), The Charles Perkins Centre Hub (D17), University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia. scott.byrne@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Scott N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000528:radiation effects; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: Immune suppression; Regulatory cells; Sunlight; Ultraviolet radiation