Evaluation of riboflavin citotoxicity and phototoxicity: determination of molecular markers in inflammation, senescence and cell death

Author(s)

Daisy Machado

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2009-10-06

Examining board members

Carmen Veríssima Ferreira; Mauricio da Silva Baptista; Francisco Benedito Teixeira Pessine

• Advisor: Carmen Veríssima Ferreira; Silvia Mika Shishido

Abstract

Riboflavin (RF) is a water soluble vitamin which belongs to vitamin B2 complex, an essential precursor of FMN and FAD coenzymes. Besides being a component of coenzymes, RF displays antitumoral and photossensitizing activities. The main proposal of this study was to evaluate the RF phototoxicity, as well as to determine molecular markers of inflammation, senescence and cellular death, deleterious actions normally triggered by the UVA radiation. Taking into consideration both cell lines used as models, fibroblasts (BALB/c 3T3) and human keratinocytes (HaCaT), the results obtained indicate that RF has potential application in photodynamic therapy. BALB/c 3T3 cells treated with 6.0 µM RF associate with UVA radiation (5 J/cm²) showed apoptosis induction mainly via intrinsic pathway. An increase of p-caveolin and MMP-2 activity (major protease responsible for degradating collagen) evidenced senescence induction. According to NF?B and p-IKKa/ß levels, RF did not significantly change the process of inflammation triggered by UVA radiation, in fibroblast cells. In HaCaT cells 5.0 µM RF associated with UVA radiation (5 J/cm ²) was observed apoptosis induction thorough extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Senescence process was also observed in keratinocytes as indicated by an increase of pcaveolin, p21 and MMPs-2 and -9 activities. Besides, the decrease of NF?B expression indicates that this transcription factor translocates into the nucleus and in turn, regulates inflammatory response. Other aspect evaluated in this work was the influence of the F-127 in the RF phototoxicity. The irradiation of hydrogel containing F-127 and RF remained RF phototoxicity property. Our findings suggest that RF displays potential for use in photodynamic therapy, once it was phototoxic when irradiated with subtoxic UVA dose (AU)