Ultraviolet radiation induces an inflammatory response in the skin, but it remains unclear how cells in the skin detect this damage and trigger an inflammatory response. Richard L. Gallo and his colleagues report that ultraviolet radiation damages self noncoding RNA. These modified RNA are released from irradiated keratinocytes and act as a danger signal that is detected by Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), which is required for the induction of proinflammatory cytokine release and for radiation-induced immune suppression.
- Jamie J Bernard
- Christopher Cowing-Zitron
- Richard L. Gallo
