Abstract:
Although our skin is not the primary visual organ in humans, it acts as a light sensor, playing a significant role in maintaining our health and overall well-being. Thanks to the presence of a complex and sophisticated optotransduction system, the skin interacts with the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum and with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Following a brief overview describing the main photosensitive molecules that detect specific electromagnetic radiation and their associated cell pathways, we analyze their impact on physiological functions such as melanogenesis, immune response, circadian rhythms, and mood regulation. In this paper, we focus on 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), a photo oxidation derivative of the essential amino acid tryptophan (Trp). This molecule is the best endogenous agonist of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR), an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor, traditionally recognized as a signal transducer of both exogenous and endogenous chemical signals. Increasing evidence indicates that AhR is also involved in light sensing within the skin, primarily due to its ligand FICZ, which acts as both a chromophore and a photosensitizer. The biochemical reactions triggered by their interaction impact diverse functions and convey crucial data to our body, thus adding a piece to the complex puzzle of pathways that allow us to decode and elaborate environmental stimuli.
摘要:
虽然我们的皮肤不是人类的主要视觉器官,它充当光传感器,在维护我们的健康和整体福祉方面发挥着重要作用。由于复杂而精密的光电转换系统的存在,皮肤与电磁波谱的可见部分和紫外线(UV)辐射相互作用。在简要概述了检测特定电磁辐射及其相关细胞途径的主要光敏分子之后,我们分析它们对黑色素生成等生理功能的影响,免疫反应,昼夜节律,和情绪调节。在本文中,我们专注于6-甲酰吲哚[3,2-b]咔唑(FICZ),必需氨基酸色氨酸(Trp)的光氧化衍生物。该分子是芳基烃受体(AhR)的最佳内源性激动剂,一种进化保守的转录因子,传统上被认为是外源和内源化学信号的信号转换器。越来越多的证据表明AhR也参与皮肤内的光感应,主要是由于其配体FICZ,既充当发色团又充当光敏剂。由它们相互作用引发的生化反应影响不同的功能,并向我们的身体传达重要的数据,从而为复杂的途径难题增加了一块,使我们能够解码和阐述环境刺激。