Phototherapy and photopharmacology.

Abstract

The activation of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) by long-wavelength ultraviolet A light (UVA, 320-400 nm) induces the formation of interstrand cross-links in DNA. Psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) is widely used in the treatment of psoriasis, a hyperproliferative disease of the skin. A new psoralen plus UVA therapy has been developed in which the 8-MOP-containing blood of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) patients is irradiated with UVA light extracorporeally (i.e., extracorporeal photopheresis). The first group of patients had the leukemic variant of CTCL. A regimen of two treatments on successive days at monthly intervals produced a clinical response in eight of 11 patients. In this review the properties of several psoralens (both naturally occurring and synthetic derivatives) are compared, using several assays (DNA cross-linking, inhibition of lymphocyte response to mitogen stimulation, and cell viability). The development of a panel of monoclonal antibodies that recognize 8-MOP-modified DNA is also described. These antibodies have been used to quantitate 8-MOP photoadduct levels in human DNA samples. In addition to the psoralens, the light activation of two other compounds, gilvocarcin and an insulin-psoralen conjugate, is described.

• Authors: F P Gasparro, G Chan, R L Edelson
• Journal: The Yale journal of biology and medicine (Yale J Biol Med) 1985 Nov-Dec Vol. 58 Issue 6 Pg. 519-34 ISSN: 0044-0086 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3832664 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Furocoumarins
• DNA
• Methoxsalen

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• DNA (immunology)
• Erythema (etiology)
• Furocoumarins (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology, radiation effects)
• Methoxsalen (analysis, therapeutic use)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C (immunology)
• PUVA Therapy
• Phototherapy
• Psoriasis (drug therapy)