Investigating the Role of Staphylococcus epidermidis as Part of the Skin Microbiota in Modulating UVB-Induced DNA Damage in Human Keratinocytes.

Abstract

The biggest organ in the body, the skin plays a vital role in preserving general health by controlling moisture loss and serving as a barrier against external hazards. By creating cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), which are strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly UVB light, can seriously damage the DNA in our skin cells. Although we frequently consider the kidneys to be the primary organs for water conservation, our skin is also an essential component of this process. The microbiome of our skin, in particular the S. epidermidis bacteria, may play a major role in determining how our skin reacts to the stress that UV exposure causes. This study's particular aim was to investigate how various S. epidermidis strains impact the synthesis of CPD-DNA in human keratinocytes following UVB exposure. After being exposed to UVB light in the presence of S. epidermidis strains 11047, 6513, and 10519, normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were used to assess the amounts of CPD-DNA that resulted using ELISA. The results showed that, in the short term, especially three hours after UVB exposure, S. epidermidis 11047 dramatically boosted CPD-DNA production. Over a longer 6-hour period, the impact did not hold true, as the data revealed no discernible change in CPD levels as compared to the control.In contrast, S. epidermidis 10519 only demonstrated weak, non-significant tendencies towards lowering CPD levels, whilst S. epidermidis 6513 showed inconsistent effects that could have been caused by variations in the experimental settings. These findings imply that various S. epidermidis strains may interact differently with keratinocytes when exposed to UV exposure; for example, strain 11047 may increase DNA damage temporarily but not persistently. The intricate role that the skin microbiome plays in maintaining skin health is highlighted in this work, and it also emphasises the need for more research to fully comprehend these interactions, which might guide the development of future UV protection techniques for the skin.