Sphingosine-1-Phosphate-Induced ERK Activation Protects Human Melanocytes from UVB-Induced Apoptosis

  • Published : 2003.10.01

Abstract

Ultraviolet B (UVB) is known to induce apoptosis in human melanocytes. Here we show the cytoprotective effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) against UVB-induced apoptosis. We also show that UVB-induced apoptosis of melanocytes is mediated by caspase-3 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and that S1P prevents apoptosis by inhibiting this apoptotic pathway. We further investigated three major subfamilies of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and the Akt pathway after UVB irradiation. (omitted)

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