Fluorescence spectroscopy in the visible range for the assessment of UVB radiation effects in hairless mice skin

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation may induce skin alterations as observed in photoaging. Some recognized modifications are epidermal hyperplasia, amorphous deposition of degraded elastic fibers and reduction in the number of collagen fibers. They alter the tissue biochemical properties that can be interrogated by steady state fluorescence spectroscopy (SSFS). In this study, we monitored the changes in endogenous fluorescence emission from hairless mice skin during a protocol of photoaging using UVB irradiation. To perform the fluorescence spectroscopy, it was used a violet laser (408 nm) to induce the native fluorescence that is emitted in the visible range. Under 408 nm excitation, the emission spectrum showed bands with peaks centered around 510, 633 and 668 nm for irradiated and control groups. A relative increase of the fluorescence at 633 nm emission on the flank was observed with time when compared to the ventral skin at the same animal and the non-irradiated control group. We correlated the emission at 633 nm with protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), and our hypothesis is that the PpIX metabolism in the photoaged and aged skin are different. PpIX fluorescence intensity in the photoaged skin is higher and more heterogeneous than in the aged skin. Notwithstanding, more spectroscopic and biochemistry studies investigating the 510 and 633 nm emission are needed to confirm this hypothesis.