Differential responses of UV-B irradiation on the viability and intracellular calcium influx in goat hepatocytes-in vitro effect.

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation in the range of 280-320nm has shown to be a promising immunomodulatory tool in xenogenic hepatocyte transplantation. Most of the studies documenting the effect(s) of UV-B irradiation on hepatic transplantation have been carried out in small model systems with very little information available in larger animals. The aim of the present investigation was to study in vitro the effect(s) of UV-B irradiation (302 nm) at 0, 250, 500, 1250 and 2500 J/m2 on the viability and cellular responses in the isolated goat hepatocytes. The results showed that the cells irradiated at 0, 250, 500, 1250 and 2500 J/m2 demonstrated a viability of 90-95%. However, intracellular [Ca2+]i influx as quantitated by Flu 3-acetete showed a significant increase with irradiation as observed in confocal microscope. The intracellular pH (quantitated by the flourescence of BCCEF) although tend to show an increase with UV-B irradiation was not statistically significant. The present observations suggest that there is a modulation in the intracellular [Ca2+]i concentration within the hepatocytes at higher dose of UV-B irradiation without altering the viability of hepatocytes. These observations are significant for the xenotransplantation of cells.