Whole Body UVA Irradiation Lowers Systemic Blood Pressure by Release of Nitric Oxide From Intracutaneous Photolabile Nitric Oxide Derivates

RATIONALE:Human skin contains photolabile nitric oxide derivates like nitrite and S-nitroso thiols, which after UVA irradiation, decompose and lead to the formation of vasoactive NO. OBJECTIVE:Here, we investigated whether whole body UVA irradiation influences the blood pressure of healthy volunteer...

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Published in:Circulation research 2009-11, Vol.105 (10), p.1031-1040
Main Authors: Opländer, Christian, Volkmar, Christine M, Paunel-Görgülü, Adnana, van Faassen, Ernst E, Heiss, Christian, Kelm, Malte, Halmer, Daniel, Mürtz, Manfred, Pallua, Norbert, Suschek, Christoph V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Pressure - radiation effects
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nitric Oxide - blood
Nitrites - blood
Nitroso Compounds - blood
Skin - metabolism
Time Factors
Ultraviolet Rays
Vertebrates: cardiovascular system
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Summary:RATIONALE:Human skin contains photolabile nitric oxide derivates like nitrite and S-nitroso thiols, which after UVA irradiation, decompose and lead to the formation of vasoactive NO. OBJECTIVE:Here, we investigated whether whole body UVA irradiation influences the blood pressure of healthy volunteers because of cutaneous nonenzymatic NO formation. METHODS AND RESULTS:As detected by chemoluminescence detection or by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in vitro with human skin specimens, UVA illumination (25 J/cm) significantly increased the intradermal levels of free NO. In addition, UVA enhanced dermal S-nitrosothiols 2.3-fold, and the subfraction of dermal S-nitrosoalbumin 2.9-fold. In vivo, in healthy volunteers creamed with a skin cream containing isotopically labeled N-nitrite, whole body UVA irradiation (20 J/cm) induced significant levels of N-labeled S-nitrosothiols in the blood plasma of light exposed subjects, as detected by cavity leak out spectroscopy. Furthermore, whole body UVA irradiation caused a rapid, significant decrease, lasting up to 60 minutes, in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of healthy volunteers by 11±2% at 30 minutes after UVA exposure. The decrease in blood pressure strongly correlated (R=0.74) with enhanced plasma concentration of nitrosated species, as detected by a chemiluminescence assay, with increased forearm blood flow (+26±7%), with increased flow mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery (+68±22%), and with decreased forearm vascular resistance (−28±7%). CONCLUSIONS:UVA irradiation of human skin caused a significant drop in blood pressure even at moderate UVA doses. The effects were attributed to UVA induced release of NO from cutaneous photolabile NO derivates.
ISSN:0009-7330
1524-4571
DOI:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.207019