PARP-1 involves in UVB-induced inflammatory response in keratinocytes and skin injury via regulation of ROS-dependent EGFR transactivation and p38 signaling.

UV irradiation can injure the epidermis, resulting in sunburn, inflammation, and cutaneous tissue disorders. Previous studies demonstrate that EGFR in keratinocytes can be activated by UVB and contributes to inflammation. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme and plays an essential role in DNA repair under moderate stress. In this study, we set out to understand how PARP-1 regulates UVB irradiation-induced skin injury and interplays with EGFR to mediate the inflammation response. We found that PARP-1 deficiency exacerbated the UVB-induced inflammation, water loss, and back skin damage in mice. In human primary keratinocytes, UVB can activate PARP-1 and enhance DNA damage upon PARP-1 gene silencing. Moreover, PARP-1 silencing and PARP inhibitor olaparib can suppress UVB-induced COX-2 and MMP-1 expression, but enhance TNF-α and IL-8 expression. In addition, EGFR silencing or EGFR inhibition by gefitinib can decrease UVB-induced COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-8 expression, suggesting EGFR activation via paracrine action can mediate UVB-induced inflammation responses. Immunoblotting data revealed that PARP-1 inhibition decreases UVB-induced EGFR and p38 activation. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 also dramatically led to the attenuation of UVB-induced inflammatory gene expression. Of note, genetic ablation of PARP-1 or EGFR can attenuate UVB-induced ROS production, and antioxidant NAC can attenuate UVB-induced EGFR-p38 signaling axis and PARP-1 activation. These data suggest the regulatory loops among EGFR, PARP-1, and ROS upon UVB stress. PARP-1 not only serves DNA repair function but also orchestrates interactions to EGFR transactivation and ROS production, leading to p38 signaling for inflammatory gene expression in keratinocytes.