How does the skin sense sun light? An integrative view of light sensing molecules

Leonardo Vinicius Monteiro de Assis; Paulo Newton Tonolli; Maria Nathalia Moraes; Maurício S. Baptista; Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci

doi:10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100403

How does the skin sense sun light? An integrative view of light sensing molecules

Leonardo Vinicius Monteiro de Assis, Paulo Newton Tonolli, Maria Nathalia Moraes, Maurício S. Baptista^*, Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute of Neurobiology

70 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The consensus on the effects of excessive sun exposure on human health has long emphasized the negative effects of solar UV radiation. Nevertheless, although UV radiation has been demonized, less is known about the consequences of sun exposure while using sunscreen, which can lead to high visible light exposure. UV and visible light play key roles in vitamin D synthesis, reduction of blood pressure, among other beneficial effects. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive view of the wide range of responses of the human skin to sunlight by revisiting data on the beneficial and harmful effects of UV and visible light. We start by exploring the interaction of photons in the skin at several levels including physical (depth of photon penetration), chemical (light absorption and subsequent photochemical events), and biological (how cells and tissues respond). Skin responses to sun exposure can only be comprehensively understood through a consideration of the light-absorbing molecules present in the skin, especially the light-sensing proteins called opsins. Indeed, many of the cellular responses to sun exposure are modulated by opsins, which act as the “eyes of the skin”.

Original language	English
Article number	100403
Journal	Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews
Volume	47
ISSN	1389-5567
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100403
Publication status	Published - 06.2021

Funding

Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci graduated in Biology and got her Master and PhD degrees in Physiology at the University of Sao Paulo. Her post doctorate was made under the supervision of Prof Mac Eugene Hadley, at the University of Arizona, during the 80’s. In 1999, she took a sabbatical leave of one year as a visiting scholar at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Maryland. Since 2005 she has collaborated with the University of Virginia. She retired in 2001 from the University of São Paulo as Full Professor of Physiology, but kept her laboratory as Senior Professor, since then. She is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and of The Academy of Sciences of the State of São Paulo and received the National Order of Scientific Merit awarded by the President of Brazil. She presently holds research grants from the São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP, focusing the following subjects: clock genes, opsins, light, temperature, endocrines and signaling mechanisms in crustaceans, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. This work was supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grants 2017/24615-5 and 2018/14728-0 to Castrucci AML; CEPID REDOXOMA 2013/07937-8 to Baptista MS) and by the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq grants 303078/2019-7 to Castrucci AML; 303831/2019-7 to Baptista MS). Moraes MN is a Young Investigator of FAPESP ( 2017/26651-9 ). de Assis LVM was a fellow of FAPESP (2018/16511-8). Funding sources had no involvement in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Research Areas and Centers

Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100403

Cite this

@article{fb3a1c6a727b4c65b1d5039690caa1dd,

title = "How does the skin sense sun light? An integrative view of light sensing molecules",

abstract = "The consensus on the effects of excessive sun exposure on human health has long emphasized the negative effects of solar UV radiation. Nevertheless, although UV radiation has been demonized, less is known about the consequences of sun exposure while using sunscreen, which can lead to high visible light exposure. UV and visible light play key roles in vitamin D synthesis, reduction of blood pressure, among other beneficial effects. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive view of the wide range of responses of the human skin to sunlight by revisiting data on the beneficial and harmful effects of UV and visible light. We start by exploring the interaction of photons in the skin at several levels including physical (depth of photon penetration), chemical (light absorption and subsequent photochemical events), and biological (how cells and tissues respond). Skin responses to sun exposure can only be comprehensively understood through a consideration of the light-absorbing molecules present in the skin, especially the light-sensing proteins called opsins. Indeed, many of the cellular responses to sun exposure are modulated by opsins, which act as the “eyes of the skin”.",

author = "\{de Assis\}, \{Leonardo Vinicius Monteiro\} and Tonolli, \{Paulo Newton\} and Moraes, \{Maria Nathalia\} and Baptista, \{Maur{\'i}cio S.\} and \{de Lauro Castrucci\}, \{Ana Maria\}",

note = "Funding Information: Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci graduated in Biology and got her Master and PhD degrees in Physiology at the University of Sao Paulo. Her post doctorate was made under the supervision of Prof Mac Eugene Hadley, at the University of Arizona, during the 80{\textquoteright}s. In 1999, she took a sabbatical leave of one year as a visiting scholar at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Maryland. Since 2005 she has collaborated with the University of Virginia. She retired in 2001 from the University of S{\~a}o Paulo as Full Professor of Physiology, but kept her laboratory as Senior Professor, since then. She is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and of The Academy of Sciences of the State of S{\~a}o Paulo and received the National Order of Scientific Merit awarded by the President of Brazil. She presently holds research grants from the S{\~a}o Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP, focusing the following subjects: clock genes, opsins, light, temperature, endocrines and signaling mechanisms in crustaceans, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grants 2017/24615-5 and 2018/14728-0 to Castrucci AML; CEPID REDOXOMA 2013/07937-8 to Baptista MS) and by the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq grants 303078/2019-7 to Castrucci AML; 303831/2019-7 to Baptista MS). Moraes MN is a Young Investigator of FAPESP ( 2017/26651-9 ). de Assis LVM was a fellow of FAPESP (2018/16511-8). Funding sources had no involvement in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2021",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100403",

language = "English",

volume = "47",

journal = "Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews",

issn = "1389-5567",

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T1 - How does the skin sense sun light? An integrative view of light sensing molecules

AU - de Assis, Leonardo Vinicius Monteiro

AU - Tonolli, Paulo Newton

AU - Moraes, Maria Nathalia

AU - Baptista, Maurício S.

AU - de Lauro Castrucci, Ana Maria

N1 - Funding Information: Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci graduated in Biology and got her Master and PhD degrees in Physiology at the University of Sao Paulo. Her post doctorate was made under the supervision of Prof Mac Eugene Hadley, at the University of Arizona, during the 80’s. In 1999, she took a sabbatical leave of one year as a visiting scholar at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Maryland. Since 2005 she has collaborated with the University of Virginia. She retired in 2001 from the University of São Paulo as Full Professor of Physiology, but kept her laboratory as Senior Professor, since then. She is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and of The Academy of Sciences of the State of São Paulo and received the National Order of Scientific Merit awarded by the President of Brazil. She presently holds research grants from the São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP, focusing the following subjects: clock genes, opsins, light, temperature, endocrines and signaling mechanisms in crustaceans, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grants 2017/24615-5 and 2018/14728-0 to Castrucci AML; CEPID REDOXOMA 2013/07937-8 to Baptista MS) and by the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq grants 303078/2019-7 to Castrucci AML; 303831/2019-7 to Baptista MS). Moraes MN is a Young Investigator of FAPESP ( 2017/26651-9 ). de Assis LVM was a fellow of FAPESP (2018/16511-8). Funding sources had no involvement in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - The consensus on the effects of excessive sun exposure on human health has long emphasized the negative effects of solar UV radiation. Nevertheless, although UV radiation has been demonized, less is known about the consequences of sun exposure while using sunscreen, which can lead to high visible light exposure. UV and visible light play key roles in vitamin D synthesis, reduction of blood pressure, among other beneficial effects. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive view of the wide range of responses of the human skin to sunlight by revisiting data on the beneficial and harmful effects of UV and visible light. We start by exploring the interaction of photons in the skin at several levels including physical (depth of photon penetration), chemical (light absorption and subsequent photochemical events), and biological (how cells and tissues respond). Skin responses to sun exposure can only be comprehensively understood through a consideration of the light-absorbing molecules present in the skin, especially the light-sensing proteins called opsins. Indeed, many of the cellular responses to sun exposure are modulated by opsins, which act as the “eyes of the skin”.

AB - The consensus on the effects of excessive sun exposure on human health has long emphasized the negative effects of solar UV radiation. Nevertheless, although UV radiation has been demonized, less is known about the consequences of sun exposure while using sunscreen, which can lead to high visible light exposure. UV and visible light play key roles in vitamin D synthesis, reduction of blood pressure, among other beneficial effects. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive view of the wide range of responses of the human skin to sunlight by revisiting data on the beneficial and harmful effects of UV and visible light. We start by exploring the interaction of photons in the skin at several levels including physical (depth of photon penetration), chemical (light absorption and subsequent photochemical events), and biological (how cells and tissues respond). Skin responses to sun exposure can only be comprehensively understood through a consideration of the light-absorbing molecules present in the skin, especially the light-sensing proteins called opsins. Indeed, many of the cellular responses to sun exposure are modulated by opsins, which act as the “eyes of the skin”.

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U2 - 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100403

DO - 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100403

M3 - Scientific review articles

AN - SCOPUS:85101795965

SN - 1389-5567

VL - 47

JO - Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews

JF - Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews

M1 - 100403

ER -

How does the skin sense sun light? An integrative view of light sensing molecules

Abstract

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UN SDGs

Research Areas and Centers

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