Background: The mode of action of narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy in clearing psoriasis is incompletely understood, and in vivo studies at the molecular level in patients undergoing NB-UVB therapy are limited. We previously demonstrated increased expression and activity of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) receptors in psoriasis lesions, and suggested that this enhanced innate signalling contributed to the maintenance of psoriatic inflammation. Objectives: We investigated whether NB-UVB affects dsRNA receptor expression and function in vivo as well as in vitro. Methods: Skin samples of patients with psoriasis undergoing NB-UVB treatment were analysed for epidermal messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the various dsRNA receptors by microarray and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Primary human keratinocytes were irradiated with NB-UVB and stimulated with interferon (IFN)-α or IFN-γ, critical cytokines in psoriasis. The dsRNA analogue polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid was used to assess the functional responsiveness of the cells to dsRNA. Results: NB-UVB therapy of patients with psoriasis resulted in a significantly reduced mRNA expression of the activating dsRNA receptors MDA5 (IFIH1) and RIG-I (DDX58). On the other hand, expression of LGP2 (DHX58), toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and PKR (EIF2AK2) was not affected. In vitro, NB-UVB irradiation completely blocked the upregulation of four of the dsRNA receptors in primary human keratinocytes stimulated with IFN-α or IFN-γ, resulting in an attenuated inflammatory response to dsRNA. Conclusions: Our results show that NB-UVB irradiation inhibits the local innate inflammatory response to dsRNA, and suggest a novel mechanism of action of NB-UVB phototherapy in psoriasis. © 2011 The Author BJD

doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10169.x, hdl.handle.net/1765/26013
British Journal of Dermatology
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Rácz, E., Prens, E., Kant, M., Florencia, E., Jaspers, N., Laman, J., … van der Fits, L. (2011). Narrowband ultraviolet B inhibits innate cytosolic double-stranded RNA receptors in psoriatic skin and keratinocytes. British Journal of Dermatology, 164(4), 838–847. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10169.x