Ultraviolet B eye irradiation aggravates atopic dermatitis via adrenocorticotropic hormone and NLRP3 inflammasome in NC/Nga mice.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation has been shown to improve atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the relationship between UVB eye irradiation and AD is not known. This issue was addressed using a mouse model of AD.

METHODS: The eyes of NC/Nga mice were irradiated with UVB at a dose of 1.0 kJ/m2 using a 20SE sunlamp for the duration of the experimental period.

RESULTS: AD symptoms deteriorated upon UVB eye irradiation. The levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the plasma and nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing (NLRP)3 and neutrophil markers in the skin were increased in UVB-irradiated mice. Treatment with inhibitors of ACTH, caspase-1, interleukin-18, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) partly reversed the effects of irradiation, with the greatest improvement observed upon ACTH inhibition. The NLRP3 inflammasome was implicated in the effects of UVB irradiation.

CONCLUSIONS: UVB eye irradiation causes AD symptom deterioration, which is likely mediated by ACTH and the activity of the inflammasome.