Circadian effects on UV-induced damage and mutations

Skin is a complex organ, consisting of several layers, each containing different kinds of cells performing different functions, including defense mechanisms against pathogens, chemicals, UV light, and mechanical injury, hydration, temperature regulation, sebum production, skin blood flow and barrier function. Skin is regulated by the central clock, while skin cells also harbor their own molecular circuitry, with each cell containing a biochemical oscillator consisting of interlocked transcription–translation feedback loops. After a brief overview of skin structure and organization, illustrative examples of 24-hour variations in some functions of skin are presented. The involvement of the circadian clock in several cells playing key roles in skin and affecting the expression of distinct gene sets and physiological functions is then reviewed. The implication of the circadian clock machinery present in different skin cells is further discussed in relation to various skin diseases, ranging from skin cancer to skin infections, inflammatory skin diseases, and wound healing. To conclude, some thoughts on strategies to maintain skin health and counteract disease conditions in the skin are offered, opening a vast field for future investigation.

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Transcriptome analysis in mouse skin after exposure to ultraviolet radiation from a canopy sunbed

Qutob,

Roesch,

Smiley

et al. 2024

Photochem & Photobiology

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Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV‐R), from both natural and artificial tanning, heightens the risk of skin cancer by inducing molecular changes in cells and tissues. Despite established transcriptional alterations at a molecular level due to UV‐R exposure, uncertainties persist regarding UV radiation characterization and subsequent genomic changes. Our study aimed to mechanistically explore dose‐ and time‐dependent gene expression changes, that may drive short‐term (e.g., sunburn) and long‐term actinic (e.g., skin cancer) consequences. Using C57BL/6N mouse skin, we analyzed transcriptomic expression following exposure to five erythemally weighted UV‐R doses (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mJ/cm2) emitted by a UV‐R tanning device. At 96 h post‐exposure, 5 mJ/cm2 induced 116 statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with structural changes from UV‐R damage. The highest number of significant gene expression changes occurred at 6 and 48 h post‐exposure in the 20 and 40 mJ/cm2 dose groups. Notably, at 40 mJ/cm2, 13 DEGs related to skin barrier homeostasis were consistently perturbed across all timepoints. UV‐R exposure activated pathways involving oxidative stress, P53 signaling, inflammation, biotransformation, skin barrier maintenance, and innate immunity. This in vivo study's transcriptional data offers mechanistic insights into both short‐term and potential non‐threshold‐dependent long‐term health effects of UV‐R tanning.

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Circadian effects on UV-induced damage and mutations

Cited by 3 publications

References 212 publications

Circadian rhythms and cancer

Circadian rhythms and cancer

Integumentary System

Transcriptome analysis in mouse skin after exposure to ultraviolet radiation from a canopy sunbed

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