Induction of proteins and mRNAs after uv irradiation of human epidermal keratinocytes

uv sensitivity of cultured human epidermal keratinocytes was analyzed at different growth conditions and compared with the sensitivity of dermal fibroblasts derived from the same skin specimen. No significant differences in survival curves were found between these two cell types, although keratinocytes grown under standard conditions were slightly more resistant to uv irradiation than fibroblasts. The extracellular concentration of calcium appeared to be critical not only in the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, but also in the uv sensitivity of these cells: keratinocytes grown under conditions which favor cell proliferation (low calcium concentration) are more resistant to uv irradiation than those grown under conditions favoring differentiation (high calcium concentration). Two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis was used to detect a possible effect of uv irradiation on the accumulation of specific mRNAs in the cytoplasm and/or on the synthesis of specific proteins. Proteins were pulse labeled in vivo with [35S]methionine or synthesized in vitro in rabbit reticulocyte lysates on mRNA isolated from keratinocytes that were irradiated with different uv doses at different periods of time prior to isolation. Alterations in expression were demonstrated for several proteins in both in vivo and in vitro experiments.