Proteins involved in the antioxidant and inflammatory response in rutin-treated human skin fibroblasts exposed to UVA or UVB irradiation

•Rutin maintenances proteomic balance following UVA and UVB radiation.•Rutin is more effective against UVA-induced protein expression than UVB.•Rutin partially restored the UVB-induced expression of proapoptotic proteins.•UVB radiation activates Nrf2 through rutin-keap1 adducts formation.•Rutin is a potential protective agent against the cellular solar radiation effect. Rutin, due to its polyphenolic structure, has antioxidant properties and can be used as a cytoprotective compound against UV-induced effects on skin cells. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of rutin on proteomic profile in human skin fibroblasts irradiated with UV dose that induces apoptosis. Proteome analysis based on the results obtained by the QExactive OrbiTrap mass spectrometer. Results show that rutin treatment more strongly protects against UVA-induced rather than UVB-induced increases in the total expression of proteins involved in antioxidant (such as SOD, TrxR, and Prxs 1/2) and inflammatory response (e.g., IL-17F, PAK2, and YWHAZ). However, in the case of UVB-irradiated cells, rutin additionally enhances the levels of disulfide-isomerase − an enzyme that is responsible for the formation and breakage of disulfide bonds. Moreover, UVB radiation promotes rutin-Keap1 adduct formation, which leads to the activation of Nrf2, a factor that is responsible for the synthesis of cytoprotective proteins. Furthermore, rutin partially prevents UV-induced apoptosis by restoring the physiological levels of p53, cytochrome c, and cell cycle and apoptosis regulator protein 2 that were increased following irradiation. In conclusion, our results show that rutin effectively prevents UV-induced damages associated with proinflammatory and prooxidative activity and protects cells against apoptosis.