Gene expression profiles of TNF-α, TACE, furin, IL-1β and matrilysin in UVA- and UVB-irradiated HaCat cells

Background/Purpose: It is known that solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation exerts multiple effects on mammalian skin tissues, one of which is the induction of local and systemic immunosuppression as well as inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and other cytokines are suggested to play a role in these responses. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan RTPCR) was used to elucidate the effect of UVA and UVB irradiation on the expression of genes coding for TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐10, FasL, matrilysin, TACE and furin in HaCaT cells over a 48 h period (IL‐1β, interleukin‐1β; FasL, Fas ligand). Methods: Cultured HaCaT cells were either sham irradiated (control) or exposed to UVA (2000 and 8000 J/m2) or UVB (200 and 2000 J/m2) radiation. RNA was extracted from cells at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48 h post‐irradiation and reverse transcribed to generate cDNA for subsequent real‐time PCR amplification. Results: Significant increases in the mRNA levels for all genes tested were detected in both UVA‐ and UVB‐irradiated HaCaT cells compared with control (sham‐irradiated) cells. TNF‐α mRNA levels were immediately up‐regulated (0 h) after irradiation, with maximal induction at 8 h post 2000 J/m2 UVA and 200 J/m2 UVB irradiation, at 4 h post 8000 J UVA irradiation and at 48 h post 2000 J/m2 UVB irradiation. No correlation was observed between TNF‐α, TACE and furin mRNA induction in the different irradiated cohorts. Conclusion: Results suggest that time‐distinct gene induction of TNF‐α, furin, IL‐1β and matrilysin may be involved in UV‐induced cellular responses, but not for TACE. In general, mRNA induction was dose dependent at some time points post‐irradiation, but not throughout the whole time course tested. Our results show that quantitative real‐time PCR is a useful tool in the analysis of quantitative changes of mRNA levels in cultured HaCaT cells after UV exposure.