Centre for Infection and Inflammation Research, School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia.
Curr Pharm Des. 2010;16(12):1358-75. doi: 10.2174/138161210791033923.
The eye and the skin are protected by a multi-layered epithelial barrier that provides the first line of defence against invading pathogens and environmental stresses such as damaging solar ultraviolet radiation. Extensive epidemiological findings supported by compelling experimental evidence in culture and animal models suggest that ultraviolet radiation is the most important environmental carcinogen leading to the development of a variety of benign and malignant ocular and cutaneous conditions. Epithelial cells have evolved several key defence mechanisms to prevent ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA mutations from stably entering the genome and ultraviolet radiation-damaged cells from establishing themselves in an otherwise normal microenvironment. Firstly, through the process excision repair, cells have the ability to correct carcinogen-induced DNA damage. Secondly, severely damaged cells are eliminated from healthy tissues by molecular programs that trigger cell death. These processes are activated through complex intracellular signalling circuits that ensure that organs such as the eyes and skin are maintained in a disease-free state. Finally, abnormal cells can be recognized, targeted and destroyed by surveillance from the immune system, however this is complicated further by the immunosuppressive effects of ultraviolet radiation that promote tumour growth. This review will discuss in greater detail some of the processes and pathways that are activated in response to ultraviolet radiation and their effect on ocular and cutaneous health.
眼睛和皮肤由多层上皮屏障保护，这是抵御入侵病原体和环境压力（如破坏性太阳紫外线辐射）的第一道防线。广泛的流行病学发现以及培养和动物模型中的有力实验证据表明，紫外线辐射是导致各种良性和恶性眼部和皮肤疾病发展的最重要环境致癌物。上皮细胞已经进化出几种关键的防御机制，以防止紫外线辐射诱导的 DNA 突变稳定进入基因组，以及紫外线辐射损伤的细胞在正常微环境中建立自己。首先，通过切除修复过程，细胞有能力纠正致癌物引起的 DNA 损伤。其次，通过触发细胞死亡的分子程序，将严重受损的细胞从健康组织中清除。这些过程通过复杂的细胞内信号通路激活，以确保眼睛和皮肤等器官保持无疾病状态。最后，免疫系统可以识别、靶向和破坏异常细胞，但紫外线辐射的免疫抑制作用会促进肿瘤生长，这使得情况变得更加复杂。本综述将更详细地讨论一些针对紫外线辐射而激活的过程和途径，以及它们对眼部和皮肤健康的影响。
