| Summary: | Objective To investigate the biological effects of terahertz (THz) exposure on the skin injury of mice, and explore the mechanism of the induced skin aseptic inflammation. Methods The hair-removed skin in the back of C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 0.22 THz irradiation, at a peak power density of 25, 80 and 160 mW/cm2, respectively and a duty factor of 1: 5, for 5 or 10 min. The release of inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and activation of NLR P3 inflammasome were detected after the exposure. Caspase-1 specific inhibitor Z-YVAD was employed to determine the role of the activation in the inflammation. Results Exposure to 160 mW/cm2 THz irradiation for 10 min induced oxidative stress, and the releases of PGE2, IL-1β and IL-6 in the skin (P < 0.05). And the 80 mW/cm2 and 160 mW/cm2 THz exposure activated the NLRP3 inflammasome in the skin, and the Caspase-1 inhibitor reduced the inflammatory factors induced by the THz irradiation (P < 0.05). Conclusion THz exposure induces oxidative stress and aseptic inflammation. Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome mediates the skin aseptic inflammation induced by THz irradiation, which might be associated with oxidative stress.
|
|---|