Road-traffic-related air pollution contributes to skin barrier alteration and growth defect of sensory neurons.

The effects of air pollution on health are gaining increasing research interest with limited data on skin alterations available. It was suggested that air pollution is a trigger factor for sensitive skin (SS). However, this data was based on surveys with a lack of experimental data. SS is related to altered skin nerve endings and cutaneous neurogenic inflammation. TTe present study was to assess the in vitro effect of particulate matter (PM) on epidermis and nerve ending homeostasis. PM samples were collected according to a validated protocol. Reconstructed human epidermis (RHE, Episkin®) was exposed to PM and subsequently the supernatants were transferred to a culture of PC12 cells differentiated into sensory neurons (SN). Cell viability, axonal growth and neuropeptide-release were measured. The modulation of the expression of different inflammatory, keratinocytes differentiation and neurites growth markers was assessed. PM samples contained a high proportion of particles with a size below 1 µm and a complex chemical composition. Transcriptomic and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that PM altered keratinocytes terminal differentiation and induced an inflammatory response. While viability and functionality of the SN were not modified, their outgrowth was significantly decreased after incubation with PM-exposed Episkin® supernatants. This was closely related to the modification of nerve growth factor/semaphorin 3A balance. This study showed that air pollutants have negative effects on keratinocytes and sensory nerve endings including inflammatory responses. These effects are probably involved in the SS pathophysiology and might be involved in inflammatory skin disorders.

Reduction of DNA damage repair efficiency and accumulation of residual damage following chronic UVB-irradiation of HaCaT cells.

Absorption of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) by DNA leads to the predominant formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD). Since those CPD are responsible for the driver mutations found in skin cancers, their efficient repair is critical. We previously showed that pre-stimulation of fibroblasts with chronic low doses of UVB (CLUV) increases CPD repair efficiency. Since skin cancers are not arising from dermal fibroblasts, this observation is not directly relevant to cutaneous carcinogenesis. We have now exposed HaCaT keratinocytes to a CLUV irradiation protocol to determine whether this pre-stimulation influences CPD removal rate. Similar to fibroblasts, CLUV treatment leads to the accumulation of residual CPD in keratinocytes, which are not repaired but rather tolerated and diluted through DNA replication. In contrast to fibroblasts, in keratinocytes we find that CLUV pre-treatment reduces CPD removal of newly generated damage without inducing a higher sensitivity to UVR-induced cell death. Using our experimental data, we derived a theoretical model to predict CPD induction, dilution and repair that occur in keratinocytes when chronically UVB-irradiated. Altogether, these results suggest that the accumulation of unrepaired CPD and the reduction in repair efficiency caused by chronic UVB exposure might lead to an increase in skin cancer driver mutations.

The T414G mitochondrial DNA mutation: a biomarker of ageing in human eye.

The mitochondrial mutation T414G (mtDNAT414G) has been shown to accumulate in aged and sun-exposed skin. The human eye is also exposed to solar harmful rays. More precisely, the anterior structures of the eye (cornea, iris) filter UV rays and the posterior portion of the eye (retina) is exposed to visible light. These rays can catalyse mutations in mitochondrial DNA such as the mtDNAT414G, but the latter has never been investigated in the human ocular structures. In this study, we have developed a technique to precisely assess the occurrence of mtDNAT414G. Using this technique, we have quantified mtDNAT414G in different human ocular structures. We found an age-dependent accumulation of mtDNAT414G in the corneal stroma, the cellular layer conferring transparency and rigidity to the human cornea, and in the iris. Since cornea and iris are two anterior ocular structures exposed to solar UV rays, this suggests that the mtDNAT414G mutation is resulting from cumulative solar exposure and this could make the mtDNAT414G a good marker of solar exposure. We have previously shown that the mtDNACD4977 and mtDNA3895 deletions accumulate over time in photo-exposed ocular structures. With the addition of mtDNAT414G mutation, it becomes feasible to combine the levels of these different mtDNA mutations to obtain an accurate assessment of the solar exposure that an individual has accumulated during his/her lifetime.

Faster DNA Repair of Ultraviolet-Induced Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers and Lower Sensitivity to Apoptosis in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells than in Epidermal Keratinocytes.

Absorption of UV rays by DNA generates the formation of mutagenic cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4PP). These damages are the major cause of skin cancer because in turn, they can lead to signature UV mutations. The eye is exposed to UV light, but the cornea is orders of magnitude less prone to UV-induced cancer. In an attempt to shed light on this paradox, we compared cells of the corneal epithelium and the epidermis for UVB-induced DNA damage frequency, repair and cell death sensitivity. We found similar CPD levels but a 4-time faster UVB-induced CPD, but not 6-4PP, repair and lower UV-induced apoptosis sensitivity in corneal epithelial cells than epidermal. We then investigated levels of DDB2, a UV-induced DNA damage recognition protein mostly impacting CPD repair, XPC, essential for the repair of both CPD and 6-4PP and p53 a protein upstream of the genotoxic stress response. We found more DDB2, XPC and p53 in corneal epithelial cells than in epidermal cells. According to our results analyzing the protein stability of DDB2 and XPC, the higher level of DDB2 and XPC in corneal epithelial cells is most likely due to an increased stability of the protein. Taken together, our results show that corneal epithelial cells have a better efficiency to repair UV-induced mutagenic CPD. On the other hand, they are less prone to UV-induced apoptosis, which could be related to the fact that since the repair is more efficient in the HCEC, the need to eliminate highly damaged cells by apoptosis is reduced.