Protein Kinase C Epsilon Signals Ultraviolet Light-Induced Cutaneous Damage and Development of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Possibly Through Induction of Specific Cytokines in a Paracrine Mechanism
January 2005
in “
Photochemistry and Photobiology
”
TLDR Protein kinase C epsilon may promote skin cancer development after UV exposure by affecting nearby cells.
The study investigated the role of Protein kinase C epsilon (PKCɛ) in skin carcinogenesis using transgenic mice that overexpressed PKCɛ. These mice were highly susceptible to developing metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (mSCC) following ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure or a specific tumor promotion protocol. The research suggested that PKCɛ overexpression in the epidermis, but not in the tumor itself, created a microenvironment conducive to mSCC development through a paracrine mechanism involving cytokines like tumor necrosis factor–α (TNFα). This pattern was observed in both the mouse model and human squamous cell carcinoma, indicating a potential pathway for cancer development linked to PKCɛ.
