Measurement of UVB-Induced DNA damage and its consequences in models of immunosuppression.

Exposure to UVB results in formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photoproducts in DNA. These can be quantified by a variety of techniques including alkaline gel electrophoresis, ELISAs, Southwestern blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Damage to DNA results in activation of damage response pathways, as indicated by Western blotting using antibodies specific for p53 and breast cancer-associated gene 1 (BRCA1) phosphorylation. The signal from DNA damage to activation of these response pathways appears to be mediated by FKBP12-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP), since these phosphorylation events are blocked by rapamycin. UVB-induced DNA damage also leads to induction of immunosuppressive cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-10 in skin. Induction of TNF-alpha by UVB is readily detectable in cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) using ELISA, while induction of IL-10 is readily detectable in cultured mouse keratinocytes but not in NHEKs. Induction of DNA damage by liposome-encapsulated HindIII results in induction of immunosuppressive responses similar to UVB. Clinical testing shows that liposome-encapsulated T4 endonuclease V or photolyase stimulates repair of CPDs in the skin of human subjects, and prevents UVB-induced immunosuppression. Stimulation of repair and prevention of immunosuppression have been linked to prevention of skin cancer by liposome-encapsulated T4 endonuclease V in repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum patients.

Liposome-encapsulated ursolic acid increases ceramides and collagen in human skin cells.

Skin wrinkling and xerosis associated with aging result from decreases in dermal collagen and stratum corneum ceramide content. This study demonstrated that ursolic acid incorporated into liposomes (URA liposomes) increases both the ceramide content of cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK), and the collagen content of cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts. In addition, URA liposomes increased the ceramide content of the skin of human subjects, with increases in hydroxy ceramides occurring after only 3 days of treatment. Both URA liposomes and retinoic acid decreased markers of keratinocyte differentiation (keratin 1, keratin 10 and involucrin) in cultured NHEK. Thus, URA liposomes have effects on keratinocyte differentiation and dermal fibroblast collagen synthesis similar to those of retinoids. However, this study showed that URA liposomes increase ceramides in NHEK, in contrast to the decreases previously shown to be caused by retinoids. URA liposomes have the potential to be used alone or in combination with other agents to restore or maintain skin ceramide and collagen content.