Immunohistochemical analysis of effects of UVA exposure to the human fibroblasts in the skin equivalent model

In vitro and in vivo studies have reported the induction of matrix metaloproteinase (MMP)-1 in the fibroblasts by ultraviolet (UV) A irradiation. We constructed the skin equivalent model using HaCaT cells as keratinocytes and human neonatal dennal fibroblasts as fibroblasts in the present study. The induction of MMP-l in the fibroblasts was confirmed immunohistochemically 6 hours after UVA irradiation using this model. This model was simply composed of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. To our knowledge, there have been a few papers concerning the skin equivalent model in the field of photobiology. The effect of UVA exposure to fibroblasts through keratinocytes was examined using this model. The cross-talk can be examined between keratinocytes and fibroblasts. This model can be a useful tool in the field of photobiology.