This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a colleague Related articles in PNAS Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My File Cabinet Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Talalay, P. Articles by Dinkova-Kostova, A. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Talalay, P. Articles by Dinkova-Kostova, A. T. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Social Bookmarking                What's this?

 Previous Article  | Table of Contents |  Next Article 

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES / MEDICAL SCIENCES
Sulforaphane mobilizes cellular defenses that protect skin against damage by UV radiation

Paul Talalay^,, Jed W. Fahey^,, Zachary R. Healy, Scott L. Wehage, Andrea L. Benedict, Christine Min, and Albena T. Dinkova-Kostova^,¶

Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Cancer Chemoprotection Center, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, ^¶Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, and Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205

Contributed by Paul Talalay, September 13, 2007 (received for review September 10, 2007)

UV radiation (UVR) is a complete carcinogen that elicits a constellation of pathological events, including direct DNA damage, generation of reactive oxidants that peroxidize lipids and damage other cellular components, initiation of inflammation, and suppression of the immune response. Recent dramatic increases in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers are largely attributable to higher exposure of an aging population to UVR. Therefore, the development of cellular strategies for intrinsic protection of the skin against the deleterious effects of UVR is imperative. Here we show that erythema resulting from UVR is a comprehensive and noninvasive biomarker for assessing UVR damage and can be precisely and easily quantified in human skin. Topical application of sulforaphane-rich extracts of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts up-regulated phase 2 enzymes in the mouse and human skin, protected against UVR-induced inflammation and edema in mice, and reduced susceptibility to erythema arising from narrow-band 311-nm UVR in humans. In six human subjects (three males and three females, 28–53 years of age), the mean reduction in erythema across six doses of UVR (300–800 mJ/cm² in 100 mJ/cm² increments) was 37.7% (range 8.37–78.1%; P = 0.025). This protection against a carcinogen in humans is catalytic and long lasting.

erythema | nicotinamide:quinone oxidoreductase 1 | skin tumor | chemoprotection

Conflict of interest statement: P.T. and J.W.F. are unpaid consultants to Brassica Protection Products, LLC (BPP), which licenses the technology to produce broccoli sprouts from The Johns Hopkins University. P.T., J.W.F., and The Johns Hopkins University are equity owners in BPP (whose chief executive officer is Antony Talalay, son of P.T.), and their stock is subject to certain restrictions under university policy. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by The Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.

To whom all correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ptalalay{at}jhmi.edu

© 2007 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    What's this?

Related articles in PNAS:

In This Issue

PNAS 2007 104: 17241-17242. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles in HighWire Press-hosted journals:

				Another Reason to Get Your Vegetables Journal Watch Dermatology, November 9, 2007; 2007(1109): 2 - 2. [Full Text]

Current Issue | Archives | Online Submission | Info for Authors | Editorial Board | About Subscribe | Advertise | Contact | Site Map Copyright © 2007 by the National Academy of Sciences