EXPRESSION OF CONCERN: Melatonin and its derivatives counteract the ultraviolet B radiation‐induced damage in human and porcine skin ex vivo
Open accessAbstract
Melatonin and its derivatives ( N 1 ‐acetyl‐ N 2 ‐formyl‐5‐methoxykynurenine [ AFMK ] and N ‐acetyl serotonin [ NAS ]) have broad‐spectrum protective effects against photocarcinogenesis, including both direct and indirect antioxidative actions, regulation of apoptosis and DNA damage repair; these data were primarily derived from in vitro models. This study evaluates possible beneficial effects of melatonin and its active derivatives against ultraviolet B ( UVB )‐induced harm to human and porcine skin ex vivo and to cultured HaCaT cells. The topical application of melatonin, AFMK , or NAS protected epidermal cells against UVB ‐induced 8‐ OH dG formation and apoptosis with a further increase in p53 ser15 expression, especially after application of melatonin or AFMK but not after NAS use. The photoprotective action was observed in pre‐ and post‐ UVB treatment in both human and porcine models. Melatonin along with its derivatives upregulated also the expression of antioxidative enzymes after UVB radiation of HaCaT cells. The exogenous application of melatonin or its derivatives represents a potent and promising tool for preventing UVB ‐induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. This protection results in improved genomic, cellular, and tissue integrity against UVB ‐induced carcinogenesis, especially when applied prior to UV exposure. In addition, our ex vivo experiments provide fundamental justification for further testing the clinical utility of melatonin and metabolites as protectors again UVB in human subjects. Our ex vivo data constitute the bridge between vitro to vivo translation and thus justifies the pursue for further clinical utility of melatonin in maintaining skin homeostasis.
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The effects of novel vitamin D3 and lumisterol derivatives, including stimulation of Nrf2-downstream genes and proteins and photoprotection, are similar to those of other synthetic and natural compounds including 1,25(OH)2D3.
“The effects of the novel vitamin D3 and lumisterol derivatives, including the stimulation of the expression of Nrf2-downstream genes and proteins, as well as the photoprotection, are similar to those described for other synthetic and natural compounds including 1,25(OH)2D3 [1,15,17,20,36,50,97].”
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Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [32]Fischer TW Kleszczynski K Hardkop LH Melatonin enhances antioxidative enzyme gene expression (CAT, GPx, SOD), prevents their UVR-induced depletion, and protects against the formation of DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine) in ex vivo human skin J Pineal Res 2012 54 303 12 23110400
- [36]Reiter RJ Rosales-Corral S Tan DX Melatonin as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant: one of evolution's best ideas Cell Mol Life Sci 2017 74 3863 3881 28864909 PMC11107735
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Self-citationKleszczyński, K., Bilska, B., Stegemann, A., Flis, D. J., Ziolkowski, W., Pyza, E., Luger, T. A., Reiter, R. J., Böhm, M., & Slominski, A. T. (2018) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms19123786 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Skobowiat, C., Brożyna, A. A., Janjetovic, Z., Jeayeng, S., Oak, A. S. W., Kim, T., Panich, U., Reiter, R. J., & Slominski, A. T.
- Affiliations
- Nicolaus Copernicus University (PL)
- Department of Dermatology Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Chemoprevention Program University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
- Siriraj Hospital (TH)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Slominski, Andrzej T.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Pineal Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-05-21
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e12501-e12501
- ISSN
- 0742-3098 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-079X
- PMC
- PMC6105533
- OpenAlex
- W2800344070
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 15.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- expression_of_concern (2026-02-24)
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Pineal Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (1R01AR056666‐01A2, 1R01AR071189–01A1)
- Thailand Research Fund (RSA5980066)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Keywords
- melatonin, melatonin derivatives, N-acetylserotonin, UV-B radiation, photoprotection, skin damage, 8-oxoguanine, DNA damage, apoptosis, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, HaCaT keratinocytes, porcine skin, topical application, photocarcinogenesis
- MeSH terms
- 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine, Animals, Cell Line, Deoxyguanosine, DNA Damage, Humans, Melatonin, Skin, Swine, Ultraviolet Rays, Oxidative Stress
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