1162 BMAL1 and CLOCK proteins in regulating the sensitivity of human keratinocytes to UVB-induced apoptosis

Abstract

A diverse array of biological processes is under circadian controls. It has been reported that UV-induced apoptosis and DNA damage responses in mouse skin are time-of-day dependent and regulated by core clock proteins, including BMAL1, CLOCK, PERs, and CRYs. The aim of this study is to investigate the circadian controls of UV responses in human keratinocytes, using the siRNA-mediated loss-of-function approach. We found that low-dose (5 mJ/cm2) of UVB triggered an oscillation of BMAL1 and CLOCK mRNA expression in the immortal HaCat human keratinocyte cell line, as well as primary human keratinocytes. In HaCat cells, depletion of BMAL1 or CLOCK reduced the percentage of UVB-induced apoptotic cells from 43% (in controls) to 29% (p < 0.001) and 31% (P < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, knockdown of either clock gene strongly blocked UVB-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and phosphorylation of NF-κB. These results suggest that BMAL1-CLOCK proteins may promote cell death by regulating the TNFα-NF-κB mediated extrinsic apoptotic pathway in UVB-irradiated HaCat keratinocytes. Given the critical impact of UVB on photo-aging and photo-carcinogenesis, mechanistic elucidation and understanding of circadian controls on UVB effects in human skin will be beneficial for prevention and treatment of skin-related diseases including cancers.