HMGB1/RAGE axis promotes autophagy and protects keratinocytes from ultraviolet radiation-induced cell death

The primary cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Keratinocytes are the predominant cell type in the epidermis and form a barrier against environmental damage, especially from UV light irradiation. Autophagy is a self-digestion mechanism for energy homeostasis at critical times during development and as a response to stress. High-mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) is a highly conserved nuclear protein that is associated with cell autophagy.

We investigated the role of HMGB1 in keratinocytes exposed to UV irradiation and its regulation of keratinocyte autophagy.

Specimens of UV-exposed human skin were assayed immunohistochemically for HMGB1. HaCaT immortalized human keratinocytes were used to investigate the mechanism of HMGB1 translocation induced by UV irradiation. Levels of cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by H₂DCF assay, apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry and western-blot after lentivirus-mediated shRNA targeting of HMGB1 in keratinocytes by UV irradiation. Phosphorylated-Erk1/2 expression was assayed by western blotting.

HMGB1 and its receptor (receptor for advanced glycation end products, RAGE) were both expressed by HaCaT cells, and HMGB1 was transferred from the nucleus to the cytoplasm after UV irradiation in both HaCaT and human skin keratinocytes. Knockdown of HMGB1 expression by lentivirus-mediated shRNA limited UV-induced autophagy and led to increased apoptosis of HaCaT cells. Pharmacological inhibition of HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation by agents such as ethyl pyruvate limits starvation-induced autophagy. UV irradiation led to phosphorylation of Erk1/2 in HaCaT cells. Inhibition of RAGE and Erk1/2 limited HaCaT cell autophagy.

Autocrine HMGB1 modulated HaCaT autophagy via a RAGE/HMGB1/extracellular signal-regulated Erk1/2-dependent pathway to protect keratinocytes from apoptosis during UV irradiation.