title: Protective effects of quercetin on UVB irradiation‑induced cytotoxicity through ROS clearance in keratinocyte cells.
abstract: Human skin is the body's largest organ that protects against diverse environmental injuries. However, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which induces a transient increase in the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to a variety of injuries and various skin diseases, has deleterious effects on living organisms. Quercetin is a naturally occurring compound with strong antioxidant action and can successfully scavenge free radicals. In the present study, we investigated the effects and the mechanism of quercetin on UVB‑induced cytotoxicity in keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The results of this study showed that quercetin (20 μM) significantly blocked UVB irradiation (15 mJ/cm2)‑induced intracellular ROS generation. In addition, the ROS clearing ability of quercetin prevented cell membrane and mitochondria from ROS attack and inhibited cell membrane fluidity decrease and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Moreover, the outflow of cytochrome c and apoptosis were markedly inhibited. These results suggest that the protective effect of quercetin against UVB irradiation‑induced toxicity is mainly mediated by the ROS scavenging ability. Thus, quercetin is a potential agent against UVB irradiation‑induced skin damage.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xianbing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: The Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yiling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: The Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Houjie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yehui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D045304:Cytochromes c; D011794:Quercetin