REVIEW   Free access

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2019 February;154(1):37-41

DOI: 10.23736/S0392-0488.18.06132-1

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Implications of tryptophan photoproduct FICZ in oxidative stress and terminal differentiation of keratinocytes

Masutaka FURUE ^{1, 2, 3} ✉, Hiroshi UCHI ¹, Chikage MITOMA ^{1, 2}, Akiko HASHIMOTO-HACHIYA ^{1, 2}, Yuka TANAKA ², Takamichi ITO ¹, Gaku TSUJI ¹

¹ Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; ² Research and Clinical Center for Yusho and Dioxin, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan; ³ Division of Skin Surface Sensing, Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation activates aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mediates photocarcinogenesis and photoaging. 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) is a tryptophan photoproduct generated by UVB exposure. FICZ exhibits similar biological effects to UVB, including AHR ligation and ROS production. FICZ also acts as a potent photosensitizer for UVA and the production of ROS is synergistically augmented in the simultaneous presence of FICZ and UVA. In contrast, FICZ upregulates the expression of terminal differentiation molecules such as filaggrin and loricrin via AHR. In parallel with this, the administration of FICZ inhibits skin inflammation in a murine psoriasis and dermatitis model. In this article, we summarize the harmful and beneficial aspects of FICZ in skin pathology.

KEY WORDS: Receptors, aryl hydrocarbon - Reactive oxygen species - Filaggrin