Survival, excision repair and inhibition of DNA synthesis in normal human skin fibroblasts exposed to simulated sunlight.

The responses of normal human skin fibroblasts exposed to simulated sunlight produced by a solar simulator were examined. The parameters investigated were cellular survival, excision repair and the inhibition and recovery of DNA synthesis. The latter two effects were examined using the bromodeoxyuridine photolysis assay and the alkaline step elution assay respectively. The results of these experiments are consistent with the conclusion that the lesions induced by simulated sunlight represent a mixture of damage which elicits cellular responses and repair mechanisms similar to those manifested by cells irradiated with UVC and UVA radiation.