Isoflavonoid photoprotection in mouse and human skin is dependent on metallothionein
Open accessAbstract
Previous studies report that selected topical isoflavonoids are immunoprotective in both mice and humans, when applied following UV irradiation. Isoflavonoids have documented antioxidant activity, but their mechanism of immunomodulation remains unclear. This study examines whether photoimmunoprotection by the isoflavonoids might result from their interaction with one cutaneous antioxidant known to modulate UV photodamage, metallothionein (MT). In mice bearing a null mutation for MT-I and -II, we found that immunoprotection by the isoflavonoid 4',7-dihydroxyisoflavane (equol) against solar-simulated UV radiation (SSUV) or exogenous cis-urocanic acid was abrogated. Topical equol did not activate MT expression in normal mouse skin, but markedly enhanced the increase in MT expression in murine epidermis following SSUV irradiation. Normal human skin, unlike murine, expressed MT in the basal epidermis. Following SSUV irradiation, topical application of the related synthetic isoflavonoid NV-07alpha to human skin also markedly enhanced epidermal MT expression. The NV-07alpha has been reported previously to protect humans against the UV suppression of Mantoux reactions. Thus, epidermal MT expression appears to protect against photoimmunosuppression in both human and mouse skin. We speculate that equol and its related derivative NV-07alpha may activate the MT gene synergistically with SSUV, to produce the enhanced immunoprotective effect.
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Equol's photo-protective effect in mouse and human skin is dependent on metallothionein.
“Widyarini et al. have shown that equol's photo-protective effect in mouse and human skin is dependent on metallothionein [96].”
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- Authors
- Widyarini, S., Allanson, M., Gallagher, N. L., Pedley, J., Boyle, G. M., Parsons, P. G., Whiteman, D. C., Walker, C., & Reeve, V. E.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Reeve, Vivienne E.
- Venue
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-01
- Volume
- 126
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 198-204
- ISSN
- 0022-202X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2017016795
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Keywords
- isoflavonoids, equol, metallothionein, photoprotection, ultraviolet radiation, photoimmunosuppression, topical application, cis-urocanic acid, epidermis, tuberculin reaction
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Dermatitis, Contact, Humans, Immune Tolerance, Isoflavones, Metallothionein, Mice, Mutant Strains, RNA, Messenger, Skin, Ultraviolet Rays, Mice, Equol
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