Publications by authors named "Katie M Dixon"

Despite extensive research, determining the optimal level of sunlight exposure for human health remains a challenge, emphasizing the need for ongoing scientific inquiry into this critical aspect of human well-being. This review aims to elucidate how different components of the solar spectrum, particularly near-infrared (NIR) radiation and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) affect human health in diverse ways depending on factors such as time of day and duration of exposure. Sunlight has beneficial effects from the production of melatonin by NIR and vitamin D by UVB.

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Melanoma, originating through malignant transformation of melanin-producing melanocytes, is a formidable malignancy, characterized by local invasiveness, recurrence, early metastasis, resistance to therapy, and a high mortality rate. This review discusses etiologic and risk factors for melanoma, diagnostic and prognostic tools, including recent advances in molecular biology, omics, and bioinformatics, and provides an overview of its therapy. Since the incidence of melanoma is rising and mortality remains unacceptably high, we discuss its inherent properties, including melanogenesis, that make this disease resilient to treatment and propose to use AI to solve the above complex and multidimensional problems.

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Photoprotective properties of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D) to reduce UV-induced DNA damage have been established in several studies. UV-induced DNA damage in skin such as single or double strand breaks is known to initiate several cellular mechanisms including activation of poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). DNA damage from UV also increases extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, which further increases PARP activity.

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Common therapeutics in relation to melanoma and non-melanoma cancers include the use of kinase inhibitors. The long-term benefits of kinases, however, are limited by development of drug resistance. An alternative approach for treatment would be to focus on transcription factors.

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The hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)D, reduces UV-induced DNA damage. UV exposure initiates pre-vitamin D production in the skin, and continued UV exposure photoisomerizes pre-vitamin D to produce "over-irradiation products" such as lumisterol (L). Cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) in skin catalyzes the conversion of L to produce three main derivatives: 24-hydroxy-L [24(OH)L], 22-hydroxy-L [22(OH)L], and 20,22-dihydroxy-L [20,22(OH)L].

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The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is an important regulator of epidermal function. We previously reported that knockdown of the CaSR or treatment with its negative allosteric modulator, NPS-2143, significantly reduced UV-induced DNA damage, a key factor in skin cancer development. We subsequently wanted to test whether topical NPS-2143 could also reduce UV-DNA damage, immune suppression, or skin tumour development in mice.

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Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, with poor prognosis in advanced stages. Vitamin D, also produced by ultraviolet radiation, is known for its anti-proliferative properties in some cancers including melanoma. While vitamin D deficiency has been associated with advanced melanoma stage and higher levels of vitamin D have been associated with better outcomes, the role for vitamin D in melanoma remains unclear.

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Article Synopsis
  • The vitamin D hormone 1,25(OH)D and related compounds protect human skin cells from UV-induced DNA damage when applied before or after UV exposure by reducing specific types of damage.
  • Knockdown of the vitamin D receptor or ERp57 protein eliminates the protective effects of vitamin D-related treatments, indicating the importance of these components in skin protection.
  • Treatment with 1,25(OH)D not only decreases oxygen consumption in skin cells but also inhibits processes that promote skin cancer risk from chronic UV exposure, highlighting its potential anti-cancer properties.
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Susceptibility to photoimmune suppression and photocarcinogenesis is greater in male than in female humans and mice and is exacerbated in female estrogen receptor-beta knockout (ER-β-/-) mice. We previously reported that the active vitamin D hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D), applied topically protects against the ultraviolet radiation (UV) induction of cutaneous cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and the suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in female mice. Here, we compare these responses in female versus male Skh:hr1 mice, in ER-β-/-/-- versus wild-type C57BL/6 mice, and in female ER-blockaded Skh:hr1 mice.

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Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is known to be protective against oxidative stress-mediated skin dysfunction. Here we explore the potential therapeutic activities of RM191A, a novel SOD mimetic, on skin. RM191A is a water-soluble dimeric copper (Cu-Cu)-centred polyglycine coordination complex.

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Exposure of skin cells to UV radiation results in DNA damage, which if inadequately repaired, may cause mutations. UV-induced DNA damage and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species also cause local and systemic suppression of the adaptive immune system. Together, these changes underpin the development of skin tumours.

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The active vitamin D compound, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D) is produced in skin cells following exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. However, there are many harmful effects of UV which include DNA damage caused by direct absorption of UV, as well as that caused indirectly via UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, 1,25D and analogs have been shown to reduce both direct and indirect UV-induced DNA damage in skin cells.

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Inadequately repaired post-UV DNA damage results in skin cancers. DNA repair requires energy but skin cells have limited capacity to produce energy after UV insult. We examined whether energy supply is important for DNA repair after UV exposure, in the presence of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D), which reduces UV-induced DNA damage and photocarcinogenesis in a variety of models.

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Topical 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) and other vitamin D compounds have been shown to protect skin from damage by ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in a process that requires the vitamin D receptor. Yet, while mice which do not express the vitamin D receptor are more susceptible to photocarcinogenesis, mice unable to 1α-hydroxylate 25-hydroxyvitamin D to form 1,25D do not show increased susceptibility to UVR-induced skin tumors. A possible explanation is that an alternative pathway, which does not involve 1α-hydroxylation, may produce photoprotective compounds from vitamin D.

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Vitamin D is primarily produced by a photochemical reaction in skin, using the energy of ultraviolet B radiation. Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is also responsible for several types of DNA damage, immunosuppression and photoaging. A number of adaptive responses are known to occur in skin to increasing UV exposure, including increased pigmentation, increased thickness of the cornified layer of skin and upregulation of DNA repair pathways.

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As skin cancer is one of the most costly health issues in many countries, particularly in Australia, the possibility that vitamin D compounds might contribute to prevention of this disease is becoming increasingly more attractive to researchers and health communities. In this article, important epidemiologic, mechanistic and experimental data supporting the chemopreventive potential of several vitamin D-related compounds are explored. Evidence of photoprotection by the active hormone, 1α,25dihydroxyvitamin D3, as well as a derivative of an over-irradiation product, lumisterol, a fluorinated analog and bufalin, a potential vitamin D-like compound, are provided.

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Exposure to sunlight is the major cause of skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun causes damage to DNA by direct absorption and can cause skin cell death. UV also causes production of reactive oxygen species that may interact with DNA to indirectly cause oxidative DNA damage.

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We have previously demonstrated that the active vitamin D hormone, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) and a cis-locked non-genomic analogue, protect skin cells from ultraviolet radiation (UV)-induced skin cell loss, DNA damage, immunosuppression and skin carcinogenesis. Herein, we used a low-calcaemic analogue, 1α-hydroxymethyl-16-ene-24,24-difluoro-25-hydroxy-26,27-bis-homovitamin D3 (QW), which has some transactivating capacity and is approximately 80-100 times less calcaemic than 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). QW (0.

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Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can lead to a range of deleterious responses in the skin. An important form of damage is the DNA photolesion cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD). CPDs can be highly mutagenic if not repaired prior to cell division and can lead to UV-induced immunosuppression, making them potentially carcinogenic.

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The role of vitamin D in the immune system is complex. Vitamin D is produced in the skin following exposure to ultraviolet radiation. There is compelling evidence that vitamin D compounds protect against ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA damage and immune suppression, suggesting it may be beneficial as a skin cancer preventive agent.

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Calcitriol, the biologically active form of vitamin D, has been reported to cause both suppressive and protective immune effects in mice. Its immune effects in vivo in humans are unclear. We investigated the in vivo effects of topical calcitriol on minimal erythema dose and skin immune responses in healthy volunteers.

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Vitamin d.

Int J Biochem Cell Biol

May 2009

The primary source of vitamin D is the skin, following exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Vitamin D is well known for its effects on stimulating calcium absorption and is thus essential for maintenance of normal bone. It is also important for muscle function and has more recently been implicated in protection against several diseases including diabetes.

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The immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D have been described following chronic oral administration to mice or supplementation of cell cultures with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)), the active form of vitamin D. In this study, topically applied 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), enhanced the suppressive capacity of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells from the draining lymph nodes. The effects of topical 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) were compared with those of UVB irradiation, which is the environmental factor required for 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) production in skin.

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UV radiation-induced epidermal apoptotic sunburn cells provide a mechanism for eliminating cells with irreparable DNA damage. The UVB (290-320 nm) waveband is mainly responsible, but the role of UVA (320-400 nm) is less clear, and possible waveband interactions have not been examined. Recent studies in mice reveal a protective role for UVA against UVB-induced inflammation and immunosuppression, mediated via cutaneous heme oxygenase (HO).

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Vitamin D is produced in skin by UVB radiation (290-320 nm) acting on 7-dehydrocholesterol. The hypotheses that the active vitamin D hormone, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), would increase the survival of skin cells after UV irradiation and that surviving cells after 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment would have no increase in DNA damage were tested. The survival of keratinocytes post-UVR was significantly greater after treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 compared to vehicle (P<0.

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