The Protective Effects of Ultraviolet A1 Irradiation on Spontaneous Lupus Erythematosus-Like Skin Lesions in MRL/lpr Mice

Abstract

We investigated the effects of ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) irradiation on spontaneous lupus erythematosus- (LE-) like skin lesions of MRL/lpr mice, using a disease prevention model. UVA1 irradiation significantly inhibited the development of LE-like skin lesions, without obvious changes of the disease including renal disease and serum antinuclear antibody levels. Besides the massive infiltration of mast cells in the LE-like skin lesions, in the nonlesional skins, more mast cells infiltrated in the UVA1-irradiated group compared with the nonirradiated group. Although apoptotic cells were remarkably seen in the dermis of UVA1-irradiated mice, those cells were hardly detectable in the dermis of the nonirradiated mice without skin lesions. Further analysis showed that some of those apoptotic cells were mast cells. Thus, UVA1 might exert its effects, at least in part, through the induction of the apoptosis of pathogenic mast cells. Our results supported the clinical efficacy of UVA1 irradiation for skin lesions of lupus patients.

Caffeine promotes anti-tumor immune response during tumor initiation: Involvement of the adenosine A2A receptor

“…In addition, signs of spontaneously resolved autoimmunity, such as skin lesions and alopecia, were observed in the entire subset of caffeine-treated mice that were injected with the carcinogen and did not develop tumors, indicating that treatment with caffeine most probably leads to an enhanced immune response against epitopes shared by the tumor and normal tissues. Spontaneous appearance of alopecia with skin lesions was previously described in one of the major autoimmune lupus-prone mouse models, the MRL/lpr mouse [30,31]. In addition, these observations are similar to reports of autoimmunity in melanoma patients who underwent immunotherapy with melanoma antigen-specific T cells [32], as well as in CL-8-1 melanoma-rejecting A 2A R À/À mice [10].…”

UVB-Stimulated TNFα Release from Human Melanocyte and Melanoma Cells Is Mediated by p38 MAPK

“…The UV light emitted from UVA lamps ranged from 350 to 400 nm with a peak at 365 nm while that of UVB lamps (305–315 nm) had a maximal output at 311–312 nm [58,59]. The variation in the output (mW/cm 2 ) of the UV lamps was measured using a relevant UV detector (UVA or UVB) attached to an IL-1400A Photometer (International Light, Newburyport, USA).…”

Photosensitivity in cutaneous lupus erythematosus

“…The potential for UVA‐1 treatment in SLE originated from a study showing that UVA‐treated lupus‐prone NZB/NZW F1 mice had better rates of survival, decreased anti‐DNA antibody production and augmented lymphocyte responses to foreign antigens compared with untreated mice . UVA‐1 radiation in lupus‐prone MRL‐lpr mice also prevented development of CLE‐like skin lesions . Based on these findings, UVA‐1 was tested in SLE patients in varying dosing regimens in case report, open‐label and randomized control trial settings (Table ) .…”