UVB Irradiation Regulates Cox-2 mRNA Stability Through AMPK and HuR in Human Keratinocytes

Considerable evidence has demonstrated that UVB irradiation is a strong carcinogen for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Up-regulation of cyclooxygenase -2 (Cox-2) has been shown to be a crucial event in human keratinocytes in their responses to UVB irradiation. To further understand the molecular mechanisms governing Cox-2 regulation, we found that UVB irradiation significantly increased Cox-2 mRNA stability by inducing cytoplasmic localization and protein abundance of human antigen R (HuR). We also found that AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) mediates these events and that UVB reduces AMPK activity by down-regulating LKB1 kinase. Finally, we propose a novel model in which UVB regulates Cox-2 mRNA stability through the LKB1/AMPK pathway. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.