Researchers found that sunburn disables a natural skin defense, allowing inflammation to trigger dangerous changes in cells. Understanding this process could help stop skin cancer before it starts.
Sunlight plays an essential role in human health by helping the body produce key nutrients such as vitamin D. At the same time, excessive time in the sun can sharply raise the risk of developing skin cancer.
A new study published in Nature Communications describes how long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can set off inflammation inside skin cells by breaking down an important protective protein called YTHDF2. This protein helps keep healthy skin cells from becoming cancerous. The research shows that YTHDF2 is critical for managing RNA activity inside cells, which helps maintain normal cellular function. These insights point toward possible new ways to prevent or treat skin cancer.
How Unchecked Inflammation Fuels Skin Cancer
Nearly 5.4 million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, and more than 90% of cases are linked to too much UV exposure. UV radiation can harm DNA and create oxidative stress in skin cells, which sparks inflammation – causing redness, pain, and blistering that most people recognize as sunburn.
“We’re interested in understanding how inflammation caused by UV exposure contributes to the development of skin cancer,” said Yu-Ying He, PhD, Professor of Medicine in the Section of Dermatology at the University of Chicago.
