UVA-1 exposure in vivo leads to an IL-6 surge within the skin

UVA-1 is a known promotor of skin ageing. Cytokines like IL-1α, Il-1β or TNF-α, VEGF and IL-6 orchestrate UV effects, and IL-6 is furthermore an effector of UVA-induced photoageing. We investigated how fractionated UVA-1 doses influence the cytokine milieu and especially the IL-6 levels in the skin in vivo. In a study with 35 participants, we exposed previously unirradiated human skin to three UVA-1 irradiation regimes. Cytokine levels in interstitial skin fluid were measured up to 48 hours postexposure and compared to unirradiated control skin fluid. Our results show that IL-6 levels increased significantly after UVA-1 exposure at selected time points. The other candidates IL-1α, Il-1β or TNF-α and VEGF show no significant response after UVA-1 exposure in vivo. UVA-1 thus raises selectively IL-6 levels in vivo, a fact that underlines its role in photoageing and has potential implications for its modulatory effect on photoageing pathology.