Cecilia Bivik

UVB irradiation induced phosphorylation of JNK and subsequent apoptosis in human melanocytes. Depletion of both JNK1 and JNK2 expression using siRNA transfection, protected against apoptosis, as detected by decreased nuclear fragmentation and caspase-3 activity, as well as reduced translocation of Bax to mitochondria. Moreover, release of cathepsin B and D from lysosomes to the cytosol was reduced when JNK expression was suppressed by siRNA, demonstrating a JNK dependent regulation of lysosomal membrane permeabilization. In unirradiated control melanocytes, coimmunoprecipitation showed that Bim was sequestered by Mcl-1, which had a pro-survival function. After UVB irradiation, a significant decrease in Mcl-1 protein level was found, which was prevented by addition of a proteasome inhibitor. The interaction between Bim and Mcl-1 was reduced in response to UVB irradiation and Bim was phosphorylated in a JNK dependent manner. In conclusion, these findings suggest JNK to have an important pro-apoptotic function following UVB irradiation in human melanocytes, by acting upstream of lysosomal membrane permeabilization and Bim phosphorylation.

Stress-induced heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) effectively protects cells against apoptosis, although the anti-apoptotic mechanism is still undefined. Exposure of human melanocytes to heat and subsequent UVB irradiation increased the level of Hsp70 and pre-heating reduced UVB induced apoptosis. Immunofluorescence staining of Hsp70 in combination with staining of lysosomes (Lamp2) or mitochondria (Mitotracker) in pre-heated UVB exposed cells showed co-localization of Hsp70 with both lysosomes and mitochondria in the surviving cell population. Furthermore, UVB induced apoptosis was accompanied by lysosomal and mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, detected as release of cathepsin D and cytochrome c, respectively, which were prevented by heat pre-treatment. In purified fractions of lysosomes and mitochondria, recombinant Hsp70 attached to both lysosomal and mitochondrial membranes. Moreover, in apoptotic cells Bax was translocated from a diffuse cytosolic location into punctate mitochondrial-like structures, which was inhibited by Hsp70 induction. Such inhibition of Bax translocation was abolished by transfection with Hsp70 siRNA. Furthermore, Hsp70 siRNA eliminated the apoptosis preventive effect observed after pre-heating. These findings show Hsp70 to rescue melanocytes from UVB induced apoptosis by preventing release of cathepsins from lysosomes, Bax translocation and cytochrome c release from mitochondria.

Apoptosis and alterations in Bcl-2 and Bax messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were examined in cultured human epidermal melanocytes following UVB irradiation (50 mJ/cm2). The effects of various spectral ranges within UVB were investigated. A co-culture system was set up to study the interplay between melanocytes and keratinocytes in response to UVB. Melanocytes expressed high basal levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 compared with keratinocytes. Different wavelengths within the UVB spectrum induced diverse response patterns of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA and had different apoptotic power. Both Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA were upregulated to preserve protein levels and only a slight increase in apoptosis was noted 24 h after UVB (λ>305 nm). Increasing UVB between 280 and 305 nm enhanced apoptosis and upregulated Bcl-2, whilst Bax mRNA was unaltered. However, no change in protein levels was detected. A redistribution of Bax protein from different compartments within the cell may be more important than direct upregulation for the acceleration of apoptosis, but it cannot be excluded that other apoptotic pathways may be induced by shorter UVB wavelengths. The increase in apoptosis was significantly lower in melanocytes co-cultured with irradiated matched keratinocytes than in melanocytes from pure cultures, indicating that melanocytes are protected from UVB-induced apoptosis by the release of substance(s) from keratinocytes. This rescue response concurred with a fast and significant increase in Bcl-2 mRNA level in melanocytes.