Aims/background: We aimed to investigate the impact of ultraviolet B (UVB) as well as UVA1 on the epidermal expression of specific markers of gap and adhesion junctions.
Methods: Twelve healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The back of the subjects was irradiated with three MED-UVB as well as three MED-UVA1. Twenty-four hours later, punch biopsies were taken from irradiated and non-irradiated skin. Immunohistochemical procedures were used for the detection of connexin 43, E-cadherin, involucrin, Ki-67 using specific antibodies.
Results: Staining intensity of connexin 43 in UVB-exposed skin was significantly increased when compared with non-exposed and UVA1-exposed sites. By contrast, staining intensity of E-cadherin in UVB-exposed skin was significantly decreased when compared with non-exposed and UVA1-exposed sites. Involucrin and Ki-67 staining of keratinocytes was significantly increased in UVB-exposed sites as compared with non-exposed and UVA1-irradiated sites.
Conclusions: UVB significantly alters the epidermal expression of gap and adhesion junction proteins possibly indicating a role of these proteins in the regulation of UV-induced inflammation and development and progression of skin cancer.