Activation of the IL-1 gene in UV-irradiated mouse skin: association with inflammatory sequelae and pharmacologic intervention.

The relationship between ultraviolet irradiation, interleukin-1 production, and inflammatory sequelae and the pharmacologic inhibition of these events was investigated in Balb/c mice exposed to ultraviolet irradiation from a bank of six Westinghouse FS40 sunlamps. The resulting edema (66% increase), inflammatory cell infiltration, and rise in the acute-phase reactant (fourfold) serum amyloid P component was preceded by the activation of the interleukin-1 beta gene and enhanced product formation. Administration of dexamethasone, which is known to inhibit interleukin-1 production, inhibited the inflammatory response to ultraviolet irradiation. Thus, production of interleukin-1 may be one of the initial events leading to the consequences of ultraviolet irradiation exposure.