5-Aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy pretreatment mitigates ultraviolet A-induced oxidative photodamage

Abstract

Aim. To determine whether 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is effective in combating ultraviolet A- (UVA-) induced oxidative photodamage of hairless mice skin in vivo and human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro. Methods. In in vitro experiments, the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells) was divided into two groups: the experimental group was treated with ALA-PDT and the control group was left untreated. Then, the experimental group and the control group of cells were exposed to 10 J/m2 of UVA radiation. ROS, O2- species, and MMP were determined by fluorescence microscopy; p53, OGG1, and XPC were determined by Western blot analysis; apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry; and 8-oxo-dG was determined by immunofluorescence. Moreover, HaCaT cells were also treated with ALA-PDT. Then, SOD1 and SOD2 were examined by Western blot analysis. In in vivo experiments, the dorsal skin of hairless mice was treated with ALA-PDT or saline-PDT, and then, they were exposed to 20 J/m2 UVA light. The compound 8-oxo-dG was detected by immunofluorescence. Conclusion. In human epidermal keratinocytes and hairless mice skin, UVA-induced oxidative damage can be prevented effectively with ALA-PDT pretreatment.