Chemokines: Attractive Targets in the Sunburn Reaction

The chemokine CXCL5 is a peripheral mediator of pain induced by UVB irradiation to the skin.

Injudicious exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation can cause very uncomfortable sunburns. Although several soluble mediators have been associated with the sunburn response in general, those responsible for pain have not been identified. To investigate this issue, researchers exposed 1-cm² areas of forearm skin of 10 healthy volunteers to UVB radiation at 3 times the minimal erythemal dose.

In biopsy samples taken 40 hours after exposure — when sunburned sites had maximal hyperalgesia to mechanical and thermal stimuli — polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array analysis revealed elevated RNAs of a large number of molecules, including cyclooxygenase-2; the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-24; and the chemokines CXCL5 and CXCL2. The i…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)