The suppressive effects of ultraviolet radiation on immunity in the skin and internal organs: implications for autoimmunity

Low doses of sunlight that can be received during normal daily activities suppress immunity in humans. Both ultraviolet (UV) B (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm) are immunosuppressive. The wavelength dependence in humans shows distinct non-overlapping immunosuppressive peaks of solar effectiveness centred at 310 nm UVB and 370 nm UVA. In murine models of systemic immunosuppression low dose UV inhibits expansion of effector T cells in skin-draining lymph nodes, and retention of dermal effector memory CD8T cells at sites of antigen challenge. In addition to suppressing skin immunity, UV inhibits immunity in internal organs, including activation of CD8 T cells and cytotoxic T cell activity in the spleen, and memory T cell activation in the spleen and bone marrow. Neither of the chromophores responsible for UV suppression of skin immunity, DNA damage and urocanic acid, nor reactive oxygen species are involved in regulation of CD8 T cells in internal organs. Thus UVB impedes the activation and cytotoxicity of antigen-specific T cells in internal organs by mechanisms independent of suppression of skin immunity. These deleterious effects of low dose UV on skin immunity are likely to contribute to skin cancer, however UV suppression of immunity in internal organs may protect from autoimmunity. Epidemiological evidence suggests that sunlight protects from some autoimmune diseases directed towards internal organs. As UV suppression of skin and internal organ immunity appear to occur via different mechanisms, it may be possible to protect skin immunity and therefore reduce skin cancer incidence without preventing UV from reducing autoimmunity in internal organs.