[Ultraviolet rays and the skin. Modulation of immune functions]

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiations (UV) are one of the most common environmental stimuli. In the skin, UVs induce selective biological alterations whose effects include suppression of the normal immune response. This immune suppression may play an important part in the development of skin cancers, infectious diseases, and autoimmune responses. The review presented here focuses on UV-induced biological disorders and on the role of UV-exposed epidermal cells in the mechanisms of immunosuppression.