Book Description

This is a Ph.D. dissertation. The skin serves as a protective interface between the body and the noxious environment. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the most important sources of environmental stress, inducing photochemical changes in the skin that may lead to sunburn, premature skin aging and skin cancer. The skin and UV also play a leading part in the vitamin D endocrine system. When UVB photons strike the epidermis, their energy can be used for the synthesis of vitamin D3. Furthermore, the skin is one of the direct target issues for vitamin D3 action. The close interplay between UV and vitamin D3 production in the skin evokes the possibility of mutual interactions. Contents: Introduction, Aims and Scopes of the Study, Materials and Methods, 1,25D3 Inhibits UVB-Induced Apoptosis and IL-6 Production in Human Keratinocytes, 1,25D3 Protects Human Keratinocytes Against UVB-Induced Damage, Two 14-EPI Analogues of 1,25D3 Protect Human Keratinocytes Against Different UVB Effects, Molecular Pathways Involved in the Anti-Apoptotic Effect of 1,25D3 in Human Keratinocytes, General Discussion and Perspectives.