Intense THz pulses down-regulate genes associated with skin cancer and psoriasis: a new therapeutic avenue?

Terahertz (THz) radiation lies between the infrared and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and is non-ionizing. We show that exposure of artificial human skin tissue to intense, picosecond-duration THz pulses affects expression levels of numerous genes associated with non-melanoma ski...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2013-08, Vol.3 (1), p.2363-2363, Article 2363
Main Authors: Titova, Lyubov V., Ayesheshim, Ayesheshim K., Golubov, Andrey, Rodriguez-Juarez, Rocio, Woycicki, Rafal, Hegmann, Frank A., Kovalchuk, Olga
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/208/191
631/208/199
631/337/2019
692/53
Atopic dermatitis
Dermatitis
Down-Regulation - radiation effects
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
I.R. radiation
Melanoma
multidisciplinary
Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism
Neoplasms - metabolism
Proteome - metabolism
Psoriasis
Psoriasis - metabolism
Radiation Dosage
Science
Skin - metabolism
Skin - radiation effects
Skin cancer
Skin diseases
Terahertz Radiation
Therapeutic applications
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Summary:Terahertz (THz) radiation lies between the infrared and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and is non-ionizing. We show that exposure of artificial human skin tissue to intense, picosecond-duration THz pulses affects expression levels of numerous genes associated with non-melanoma skin cancers, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Genes affected by intense THz pulses include nearly half of the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) members. EDC genes, which are mapped to the chromosomal human region 1q21, encode for proteins that partake in epidermal differentiation and are often overexpressed in conditions such as psoriasis and skin cancer. In nearly all the genes differentially expressed by exposure to intense THz pulses, the induced changes in transcription levels are opposite to disease-related changes. The ability of intense THz pulses to cause concerted favorable changes in the expression of multiple genes implicated in inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancers suggests potential therapeutic applications of intense THz pulses.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep02363