Ultraviolet A and B differently induce intracellular protein expression in human skin melanocytes - a speculation of separate pathways in initiation of melanoma

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been involved in both initiation and promotion of carcinogenesis in melanoma. Alterations of cellular proliferation proteins, such as p73, Nup88, Id1 and p27 have been considered to play critical roles in melanoma development. However, the molecular mechanisms behind melanoma carcinogenesis are still poorly understood. In this study, we used human skin melanocytes as an experimental model system to investigate effects of UV irradiation on protein expression concerning cellular proliferation. The melanocytes prepared from human foreskin were separately exposed to various doses of UVA or UVB and post-cultivated for 24 or 48 h. Total proteins were isolated from the melanocytes, and expression of p73, Nup88, Id1, p27, bcl-2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) proteins was examined by western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Results showed that expression of p73 and Nup88 was enhanced by UVA irradiation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, expression of Id1, p27, bcl-2 and PCNA proteins was not changed upon exposure to the UVA. Id1 and p27 proteins were over-expressed by exposure to UVB, but expression of p73, Nup88, bcl-2 and PCNA proteins was not changed by the UVB irradiation. The data suggested that UVA and UVB irradiation might lead to alterations of the different intracellular proteins. UVA enhanced protein expression concerning cell growth (p73 and Nup88) and UVB might over-express proteins concerning cellular proliferation (Id1 and p27). UVA and UVB may induce initiation of melanoma via separate intracellular pathways.