Klausner, M., J. Kubilus, H.A. Ricker, and P.J. Neal. UVB Irradiation of an Organotypic Skin Model, EpiDerm, Results in Significant Release of Cytokines. The Toxicologist 1995. 15(1). Abstract #1745.

Ultraviolet light especially UVB (290-320 nm) is believed to be responsible for most of the immediate and long term effects of excessive exposure to sunlight. In many cases, the initial stages of these UV-induced changes are the release of cytokines. Although cytokine release from human keratinocytes in monolayer cultures following UV exposure has been studied, the results of UVB exposure to keratinocytes in fully differentiated epidermal models have not been adequately delineated. UVB irradiation of EpiDermÔ , a commercially available, highly differentiated model of the human epidermis, resulted in significant increases in PGE₂ and IL-1a , even at UV fluxes which were not cytotoxic, as determined using the MTT viability assay. At UVB doses of up to 100 mg/cm², MTT viability remained at or above 100% whereas PGE₂ and IL-1a release increased to 3.4 and 2.7-fold of baseline cytokine levels, respectively. Hence, EpiDerm may prove to be a useful tool in understanding the immunological and inflammatory reactions associated with UV irradiation and other related skin pathologies.