High-Throughput RNA Sequencing Reveals the Effect of NB-UVB Phototherapy on Major Inflammatory Molecules of Lesional Psoriasis

Abstract

Objective

To identify the narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB)-induced molecular mechanisms that may account for their anti-inflammatory efficacy, gene expression and transcriptome profiling, which were performed using advanced molecular techniques.

Methods

This research was conducted on patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis who received NB-UVB treatment. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was conducted to assay the transcriptomes and identify the differentially expressed transcripts that had been enriched during the major pathway analysis.

Results

Clinical improvement of psoriasis by NB-UVB therapy is linked to the suppression of the “immunological signaling pathways” and “cell cycle regulatory, growth and proliferation pathways” which are critical to the pathogenesis of the disease. In addition, these results were further substantiated by demonstrating that NB-UVB therapy has a significant effect on keratinocyte differentiation and affects the regulation of genes and inflammatory mediators that are related to cell proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, NB-UVB phototherapy is also involved with the downregulation of toll-like receptors signaling in lesional psoriasis.

Conclusion

NB-UVB is an effective treatment for psoriasis. Our study supports the conclusion that the clinical effectiveness of NB-UVB therapy is based on the suppression of a broad range of inflammatory signaling pathways, gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and increased expressions of anti-inflammatory signaling pathways in psoriatic skin. This is the first study that applied advanced molecular techniques to investigate phototherapy as a new key to unlock genetic knowledge and create novel information. Ultimately, the goal is to increase medical knowledge and improve the patient care of psoriasis.

Keywords:

• psoriasis
• pathogenesis
• inflammation
• NB-UVB
• high-throughput RNA-sequencing
• Inflammation
• gene
• translational study
• chronic skin disease
• UVB irradiation

Acknowledgments

This paper and the research behind it would not have been possible without the exceptional support from Asst Prof. Saranyoo Ponnikorn. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by Thammasat University Research Fund under the TU Research Scholar, Contract No. 1/2560 and Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Contract no T1/2563.

Author Contributions

All authors who have contributed to the data analysis, drafting or revising of this article have agreed on the selection of the journal to which this article will be submitted. They have furthermore given their final approval of the version to be published and have agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors state no conflicts of interest.