Sunburn cell formation is prevented by scavenging oxygen intermediates

Effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (100–3000 U/ml), catalase (300–3000 U/ml), xanthine (1–10 mM/ml) and D‐mannitol (30–300 mM ml) were examined in the pathogenesis of sunburn cells. These agents were considered to quench oxygen intermediates. The skin specimens from clipped trunk of female ICR mice were irradiated in vitro with UV‐B (6o‐120 mJ/cm2). and then incubated for 24 h. The scavengers were added during both UV irradiation and incubation. In one of the SOD groups, SOD was added only during the UV irradiation. The number of sunburn cells is increased when the dose of UV‐B increased and all of the scavengers suppressed sunburn cell formation in a dose dependent manner to the level of the unirradiated group. Although the oxygen intermediates alone cannot explain the whole process of sunburn cell production, it appears likely that ultraviolet‐induced oxygen intermediates are involved in sunburn cell formation.