Mechanisms underlying the response of skin cells to DNA photodamage

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation can induce DNA damage in skin cells, cause skin tumors and accelerate skin photoaging. UV-induced DNA damage in skin cells includes DNA single strand breaks, DNA interstrand cross-links and nucleotide base modifications. Skin cells could exert DNA damage responses, such as cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair and premature senescence to prevent genomic instability. When cell cycle checkpoint systems sense the abnormal chromosomal DNA structures, they execute cell cycle arrest and DNA repair process will be initiated. Cellular senescence is also executed by checkpoint responses when unrepairble and extensive chromosomal abnormalities are detected. So skin photoaging is thought to be one of the major mechanisms against skin carcinogenesis. ATR-Chk1 signaling pathway plays a key role in the regulation of DNA damage response process. Key words: Ultraviolet rays; DNA; Signal transduction