Unveiling the Impact of Distinct Melanosome Arrangements on the Attenuation of Cancer-Inducing Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract

The exposure of human skin to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can trigger a wide array of biological responses, including photocarcinogenesis. Melanin, either in colloidal form or encapsulated into melanosomes, is known to be the main UVR attenuation substance acting within the cutaneous tissues. Although many studies have addressed the protective role of this pigment against the harmful effects of UVR exposure, the impact of different melanosome arrangements on the mitigation of these effects remains to be quantitatively verified. The difficulties to resolve this open question can be mainly attributed to the intrinsic practical limitations of in vivo and in vitro experiments involving skin specimens. In this paper, we describe controlled in silico experiments that allowed us to overcome such limitations and provide quantitative evidence for the clarification of this question. Besides contributing to a more robust understanding of the physiological parameters associated with cutaneous UVR attenuation, our findings can be incorporated into the development of more effective strategies for the evaluation of individuals' susceptibility to UVR exposure. Such strategies are essential for the prevention of UVR-induced pathologies, particularly skin cancer.