UVB-Induced Secretion of IL-1β Promotes Melanogenesis by Upregulating TYR/TRP-1 Expression In Vitro

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is one of the exogenous stimuli increasing melanogenesis. UV light, especially UVB, is also a potent inducer of epidermal cytokine release. This study is aimed at determining the underlying mechanisms by which UVB-induced cytokines in keratinocytes regulate melanin production in vitro.

Expression levels of mRNA for interleukin- (IL-) 1, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured using RT-qPCR at various time points after UVB irradiation in C57BL/6 mice and HaCaT cells. NaOH lysis and L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) oxidation method were used to measure melanin content and tyrosinase (TYR) activity, respectively, in melanoma B16 cells. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to assess mRNA and protein levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), TYR, tyrosine-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosine-related protein-2 (TRP-2) in B16 cells. Finally, expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and stem cell factor (SCF) in HaCaT cells were measured following knockdown of IL-1β using siRNA (siIL-1β).

UVB irradiation increased IL-1β mRNA expression levels in both C57BL/6 mice and HaCaT cells. The melanin content, TYR activity, and expression levels of TYR and TRP-1 were all raised when B16 cells were treated with 4 pg/l of IL-1. Moreover, IL-1β also upregulated the expression levels of SCF and COX-2 in nonirradiated HaCaT cells. Conversely, knockdown of IL-1β attenuated UVB irradiation-induced upregulation of SCF and COX-2 expression in keratinocytes.

UVB-induced melanogenesis is mediated in part by IL-1β, leading to upregulation of the TYR/TRP1 expression in melanoma B16 cells. IL-1β can also stimulate the expression of COX-2 and SCF in HaCaT cells, which in turn increase melanin synthesis in melanocytes. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory approaches could possibly mitigate UVB-induced hyperpigmentation.