Transcriptomic analysis of human dermal fibroblast cells reveals potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of visible red light against damage from ultraviolet B light

• Published in: Journal of dermatological science Vol. 94; no. 2; pp. 276 - 283
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun Soo, Kim, Yeo Jin, Kim, Su Ji, Kang, Doo Seok, Lee, Tae Ryong, Shin, Dong Wook, Kim, Hyoung-June, Seo, Young Rok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2019
• Subjects: Cell Line; DNA Damage - radiation effects; DNA Repair - genetics; DNA Repair - radiation effects; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fibroblasts - radiation effects; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Light; Protective effect; Ranscriptomic analysis; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA-seq; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - radiation effects; Skin - cytology; Skin - radiation effects; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects; Up-Regulation - radiation effects; Visible red light; Protective effect; Visible red light; RNA-seq; Ranscriptomic analysis
• ISSN: 0923-1811; 1873-569X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2019.03.003

•Pretreatment of visible red light diminished the UV-induced damage in NHDFs.•Transcriptomic analysis of red light-exposed NHDFs revealed UV-protective pathway.•HSPA1A, HSPA5, PTGS2, IL6, LIF, and ATF3 had a key role in the protective pathway. Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is a major cause of skin photodamage, including the damage associated with photodermatoses, aging, and cancer. Although many studies have shown that red light has photoprotective effects on skin, the mechanisms underlying these effects are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the photoprotective effects of visible red light against UVB-induced skin damage in normal human dermal fibroblast cells using a transcriptomic approach. Next-generation sequencing-based transcriptomic analyses were used to profile transcriptomic alterations and identify genes that are differentially expressed by visible red light and by UVB exposure. To understand the biological networks among identified genes, a literature-based biological pathway analysis was performed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were used for mRNA-level validation of selected key genes. We observed that visible red light contributes to skin cell protection against UVB by modulating gene expression that enhances the adaptive response to redox and inflammatory balancing and by upregulating genes involved in DNA excision repair processes. We also identified that several key genes in the red light-induced biological network were differentially regulated. Visible red light enhanced the UVB-protective effects in normal human skin cells via the transcriptomic modulation of genes involved in cell-protective processes. Our findings from this next-generation sequencing analysis may lead to a better understanding of the cytoprotective effects of visible red light and provide direction for further molecular or mechanistic studies.