WHOLE-BODY EXPOSURE TO ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION RESULTS IN INCREASED SERUM INTERLEUKIN-1 ACTIVITY IN HUMANS

  • 1 June 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 6  (3) , 187-193
Abstract
Human volunteers given one minimal erythemal dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from fluorescent sunlamps developed increased serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity as assessed by the thymocyte co-stimulator assay. This activity peaked 1 to 4 hours after exposure and returned to baseline by 8 hours after exposure. Six to 12 months later, some of the same subjects had blood samples taken over the same time course but without exposure to UVR; no elevation in serum IL-1 was observed. In addition to lymphocyte activating activity. IL-1 has been reported to have endogenous pyrogen activity, chemotactic activity for neutrophils and mononuclear cells, and inflammatory activity when injected subcutaneously in vivo. Elevations in serum IL-1 activity after exposure to ultraviolet radiation may account for some oft he manifestations of the sunburn response.

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