Cis-Urocanic acid

Cis-Urocanic acid
Identifiers
IUPAC name
  • (Z)-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)prop-2-enoic acid
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC6H6N2O2
Molar mass138.126 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
SMILES
  • C1=C(NC=N1)/C=C\C(=O)O
InChI
  • InChI=1S/C6H6N2O2/c9-6(10)2-1-5-3-7-4-8-5/h1-4H,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)/b2-1-
  • Key:LOIYMIARKYCTBW-UPHRSURJSA-N

cis-Urocanic acid (cis-UCA) is a chemical compound produced by ultraviolet irradiation of trans-urocanic acid, a metabolite naturally formed in the body from histidine. cis-Urocanic acid is suspected of involvement in the development of skin cancer. It acts as an immunosuppressant through action as an agonist of the 5-HT2A receptor, and blocking this receptor has been shown to reduce cis-UCA mediated photocarcinogenesis.[1][2][3] However the immunomodulatory effects of cis-UCA are complex and also involve other pathways, and at low levels it shows antiinflammatory actions and may be protective against UV damage in the cornea and retina.[4][5][6][7][8][9] Measuring cis-UCA has been proposed as a sensitive method to detect sub-erythemal response to UVB, and thus a means to assess the UVR protection of suncreams.[10]

References

  1. Walterscheid JP, Nghiem DX, Kazimi N, Nutt LK, McConkey DJ, Norval M, et al. (November 2006). "Cis-urocanic acid, a sunlight-induced immunosuppressive factor, activates immune suppression via the 5-HT2A receptor". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103 (46): 17420–17425. doi:10.1073/pnas.0603119103. PMC 1859944. PMID 17085585.
  2. Shen L, Ji HF (September 2009). "Molecular basis for cis-urocanic acid as a 5-HT(2A) receptor agonist". Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 19 (18): 5307–5309. doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.07.143. PMID 19683920.
  3. Menezes AC, Raposo S, Simões S, Ribeiro H, Oliveira H, Ascenso A (March 2016). "Prevention of Photocarcinogenesis by Agonists of 5-HT1A and Antagonists of 5-HT2A Receptors". Molecular Neurobiology. 53 (2): 1145–1164. doi:10.1007/s12035-014-9068-z. PMID 25589005. S2CID 14282500.
  4. Norval M, El-Ghorr AA (September 2002). "Studies to determine the immunomodulating effects of cis-urocanic acid". Methods. 28 (1): 63–70. doi:10.1016/s1046-2023(02)00210-4. PMID 12231189.
  5. Schwarz T (December 2005). "Mechanisms of UV-induced immunosuppression" (PDF). The Keio Journal of Medicine. 54 (4): 165–71. doi:10.2302/kjm.54.165. PMID 16452825.
  6. Ullrich SE (August 2007). "Sunlight and skin cancer: lessons from the immune system". Molecular Carcinogenesis. 46 (8): 629–633. doi:10.1002/mc.20328. PMC 2661262. PMID 17443748.
  7. Lucas RM, Byrne SN, Correale J, Ilschner S, Hart PH (October 2015). "Ultraviolet radiation, vitamin D and multiple sclerosis". Neurodegenerative Disease Management. 5 (5): 413–424. doi:10.2217/nmt.15.33. PMID 26477548.
  8. Korhonen E, Bisevac J, Hyttinen JM, Piippo N, Hytti M, Kaarniranta K, et al. (April 2020). "UV-B-Induced Inflammasome Activation Can Be Prevented by Cis-Urocanic Acid in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 61 (4): 7. doi:10.1167/iovs.61.4.7. PMC 7401861. PMID 32271889.
  9. Korhonen E, Piippo N, Hytti M, Kaarniranta K, Kauppinen A (October 2023). "Cis-urocanic acid improves cell viability and suppresses inflammasome activation in human retinal pigment epithelial cells". Biochemical Pharmacology. 216 115790. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115790. PMID 37683842.
  10. Keurentjes AJ, Jakasa I, van Dijk A, van Putten E, Brans R, John SM, et al. (January 2022). "Stratum corneum biomarkers after in vivo repeated exposure to sub-erythemal dosages of ultraviolet radiation in unprotected and sunscreen (SPF 50+) protected skin". Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 38 (1): 60–68. doi:10.1111/phpp.12717. PMID 34278599.