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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale
Published on: May 28, 2021
Protection of normal human reconstructed epidermis from UV by catalase overexpression
H R Rezvani1, M Cario-André, C Pain
1INSERM E 0217, University Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
Abstract:
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are counterbalanced by endogenous antioxidant systems. To test the hypothesis of a novel photoprotective approach, we irradiated epidermis reconstructed with normal human keratinocytes overexpressing sustainably lentivirus-mediated catalase (CAT), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) or manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) enzymes. We found that following UVB irradiation there was a marked decrease in sunburn cell formation, caspase-3 activation and p53 accumulation in human reconstructed epidermis overexpressing CAT. Moreover, UVA-induced hypertrophy and DNA oxidation (8-oxodeoxyguanosine) were decreased by CAT overexpression. These effects were not achieved by overexpression of CuZnSOD or MnSOD. In conclusion, vector-mediated CAT overexpression could be a promising photoprotective tool against deleterious effects of UV irradiation such skin cancer especially in monogenic/polygenic photosensitive disorders characterized by ROS accumulation.
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