ROS: A Step Closer to Elucidating Their Role in the Etiology ofLight-Induced Skin Disorders
Homer S. BlackDepartment of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
Free radicals are chemical species characterized by an
free radical scavenging. In addition, there are a number of
odd number of orbital electrons, or by pairs of electrons of
pathologies where lipid oxidation has been shown to
similar directional spin isolated singly in separate orbitals.
increase with no concurrent exacerbation of disease
Consequently, most of these agents are highly reactive and
development and sometime to occur concomitantly with
usually exhibit an extremely short half-life, although due to
amelioration of the disorder (Rhodes et al, 1995). Thus, the
steric and resonance effects, some exceptions occur. For
relevance of these indirect responses to the pathology of
example, the diradical, molecular oxygen, exists in the
triplet state (3O2) and is an essential element of normal
Recent advances in a number of analytical techniques,
metabolism of aerobic organisms. Even under normal
especially free radical spin trapping, have held promise to
circumstances, however, the controlled reduction of oxygen
advance our knowledge of free radical roles in disease.
occurs and leads to the formation of the major reactive
Froncisz et al (1989) provided construction details, engi-
oxygen species (ROS), i.e., superoxide anion, hydrogen
neering characteristics, and spectroscopic performance
peroxide, and hydroxyl radical. Singlet oxygen, although
data of a loop-gap resonator for the electron spin
technically not a free radical, is highly reactive and may
resonance (ESR) detection of spin labels. A low-frequency
produce biological effects similar to those of other ROS. In
ESR spectrometer has been employed to measure free
addition to ROS, organisms may be subjected to a wide
radical reactions in living mice (Utsumi et al, 1995). Free
array of other free radicals, including those of both
radical production in tissues of a living animal, the first
exogenous and endogenous origin. This is particularly true
report of such a direct measurement, employed low-
of the skin. Almost every major class of cellular chemical
frequency paramagnetic resonance, in combination with in
constituent (e.g., lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins) is
vivo spin trapping, to detect hydroxyl markers produced
subject to radical attack, providing a rationale for the
from ionizing radiation in the tumor of a living mouse
involvement of free radical reactions in the pathophysiology
(Halpern et al, 1995). He et al (2001), using a specially
of a wide spectrum of disorders. Although the idea that free
designed bridged loop-gap surface resonator, described in
radical-mediated reactions might be responsible for some
vivo imaging of free radicals in human subjects with the use
of the deleterious effects observed in actinically exposed
of topically applied nitroxide spin labels and ESR. Using
skin is now accepted as fait accompli, it was at first
various oxygen-sensitive nitroxide spin labels and ESR, it
received with due skepticism. Certainly, it had been clearly
was found that trap intensity corresponded to irradiance
demonstrated that radicals resulted after UV radiation of
and penetration of UVB and UVA in human skin biopsies
excised skin (Pathak and Stratton, 1968). But the reason for
(Herrling et al, 2003). In this issue of the Journal, Takeshita
this caution was based upon the fact that methodology
and colleagues, in a carefully controlled study, have
required for rigorous testing for involvement of free radicals
employed the griseofulvin-induced protoporphyria mouse
in pathogenesis had not advanced to the stage that lent
model and in vivo ESR spectrometry to examine ROS
itself well to in vivo measurement (Black, 1987). Thus, the
generation and their potential role in this photosensitive
gradual acceptance of free radical involvement in specific
disorder (2004). Although porphyrias may exhibit an indeter-
cutaneous disorders came largely from a considerable body
minate pattern of inheritance, they represent a group of
of circumstantial evidence based upon indirect lines of
diseases that result from deficiencies in specific enzymes in
investigation involving the major participants in such reac-
heme biosynthesis that takes place in the erythropoietic
tions, i.e., pro-oxidants, free radicals, and anti-oxidants.
system and liver (Cox, 1997). Accumulation of heme
Examples include the amelioration of symptoms or a
precursors leads to a distinct syndrome of cutaneous
disease state by antioxidants, or the measurement of lipid
photosensitivity, thought to result partly from photodynamic
oxidation. With respect to the former, it is becoming clear
reactions of ROS with porphyrins (Buettner and Oberley,
that antioxidant function is more complex, producing
1980). Edema and erythema occur within a few minutes
physiological responses that may or may not result from
after light exposure. The griseofulvin-induced protopor-phyria mouse model has been thoroughly documented andis employed as a standard model for the study of Erythro-poietic protoporphyria (Konrad et al, 1975). If, indeed, ROS
Abbreviations: DFO, desferr loxamine meystate; ESR, electron spinresonance; ROS, reactive oxygen species
Copyright r 2004 by The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc.
reaction of protoporphyrin, then in vivo generation of these
generation, their possible role in a number of photosensi-
agents would have to be detected in the skin of griseofulvin-
tivity disorders, as well as in the evaluation of antioxidants
induced protoporphyria. This was approached by using
and sunscreens in radical scavenging.
L-band ESR spectrometry with a loop-gap resonator tomeasure the systemically administered probe (carbamoyl-
PROXYL)1 throughout a mouse, i.e., whole-body measure-ments. A surface resonator was then attached to the skin
Address correspondence to: Homer S. Black,
site to be examined, and ESR spectra were obtained.
Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,Texas 77030, USA.
Comparison of ESR signal intensity after administration ofthe carbamoyl-PROXYL probe, and sensitivity mappingof the surface resonator, indicated that the ESR signaldetected with the surface resonator came mainly from the
probe distributed in the skin. The intensities of the low-fieldpeaks were used to calculate signal decay. A good
HS: Potential involvement of free radical reactions in ultraviolet light-
mediated cutaneous damage. Photochem Photobiol 46:213–221, 1987
correlation between enhanced nitroxyl signal decay and
Buettner GR, Oberley LW: The apparent production of superoxide and hydroxyl
ROS generation had previously been demonstrated (Miura
radicals by hematoporphyrins and light as seen by spin-trapping. FEBS
et al, 1995). Measurements were taken in griseofulvin-fed
Cox T M: Erythropoietic protoporphyria. J Inherit Metab Dis 20:258–269, 1997
mice and controls, before and after irradiation with a 300-W
Froncisz W, Oles T, Hyde JS: Murine L-band ESR loop-gap resonator. J Magn
tungsten lamp, and after administration of saline control or
ROS inhibitors. Light irradiation increased the signal decay
Halpern HJ, Yu C, Barth E, et al: In situ detection, by spin trapping, of hydroxyl
rate (an indication of ROS formation) significantly in the
radical markers produced from ionizing radiation in the tumor of a livingmouse. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:796–800, 1995
griseofulvin-fed mice but had little effect on this parameter
He G, Samonilov A, Kuppusamy P, et al: In vivo EPR imaging of the distribution
in control mice. Conversely, when the light was switched off,
and metabolism of nitroxide radicals in human skin. J Magn Reson
there was a rapid deceleration of the decay rate to the
original level, i.e., the decay rate responded quickly and
Herrling T, Fuchs J, Rehberg J, et al: UV-induced free radicals in skin detected by
ESR spectroscopy and imaging using nitroxides. Free Radic Biol Med
reversibly to light irradiation. Furthermore, superoxide
dismutase, catalase, and the iron-chelating agent, DFO,
Konrad K, Honigsmann H, Gschnait F, et al: Mouse model for protoporphyria. II.
when given intravenously prior to ESR measurement,
Cellular and subcellular events in the photosensitivity flare of the skin. J Invest Dermatol 65:300–310, 1975
suppressed the rate of signal decay in irradiated griseoful-
Miura Y, Hamada A, Utsumi H: In vivo ESR studies of antioxidant activity on free
vin-fed mice in a concentration-dependent manner but had
radical reaction in living mice under oxidative stress. Free Radic Res
no effect on decay rate in non-irradiated mice.
Although speculation remains regarding the precise
Pathak MA, Stratton K: Free radicals in human skin before and after exposure to
light. Arch Biochem Biophys 123:468–476, 1968
mechanism(s) of ROS action in this light-sensitive disorder,
Proctor PH, Reynolds ES: Free radicals and disease in man. Physiol Chem Phys
this is a report of in vivo detection of light-induced ROS
in the skin of a living animal and makes an important
Rhodes LE, Durham BH, Fraser WD, et al: Dietary fish oil reduces basal and
contribution to fulfilling the criteria for acceptance of free
2 levels in skin and increases the threshold to
provocation of polymorphic light eruption. J Invest Dermatol 105:532–
radical participation in a disease state (Proctor and
Reynolds, 1984) . The development of the surface resonator
Takeshita K, Takajo T, Hirata H, Ono M, Utsumi H: In vivo oxygen radical proto-
as an analytical tool for the detection of in vivo radical
porphyria model mouse with visible light exposure: An L-Band ESR study. J Invest Dermatol 122:1463–1470, 2004
generation in the skin should be, as the authors note,
Utsumi H, Ichikawa K, Takeshita K: In vivo ESR measurements of free radical
extremely valuable in dermatology for examination of ROS
reactions in living mice. Toxicol Lett 82–83:561–565, 1995
13-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-N-oxyl, a stable
nitroxide radical employed as a spin probe. It may also act asa superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimic compound. Thus, theincreased decay rate of this redox probe after light exposure ofskin in griseofulvin-fed mice supports the involvement of ROSspecies in mediation of symptoms in this photosensitive model.
Estrriol (E3) is one of the three physiologic estrogens found in the human body. The unique biochemical and biologic effects of estriol distinguish it among alternative FDA- approved chemical entities. Estriol, oestra-1, 3,5 (10)- triene- 3,16 α, 17 β-triol, is widely used as hormone replacement therapy in Europe and Japan since it obviates the need for progestin administration. There is
Four-Week Low-Glycemic Index Breakfast With a Modest Amount of Soluble Fibers in Type 2 Diabetic Men Morvarid Kabir, Jean-Michel Oppert, Hubert Vidal, Francoise Bruzzo, Caroline Fiquet, Pierre Wursch, Low-glycemic index diets are associated with a wide range of benefits when followed on a chronic basis. The chronic effects, however, of the substitution of 1 meal per day are not well known