Photochemistry of nitric oxide and S-nitrosothiols in human skin

Nitric oxide (NO) is related to a wide range of physiological processes such as vasodilation, macrophages cytotoxicity and wound healing. The human skin contains NO precursors (NO(x)). Those are mainly composed of nitrite (NO(2)(−)), nitrate (NO(3)(−)), and S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) which forms a large NO store. These NO(x) stores in human skin can mobilize NO to blood stream upon ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the most effective UV light wavelength to generate NO and compare it to each NO precursor in aqueous solution. In addition, the UV light might change the RSNO content on human skin. First, we irradiated pure aqueous solutions of NO(2)(−) and NO(3)(−) and mixtures of NO(2)(−) and glutathione and NO(3)(−) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) to identify the NO release profile from those species alone. In sequence, we evaluated the NO generation profile on human skin slices. Human skin was acquired from redundant plastic surgical samples and the NO and RSNO measurements were performed using a selective NO electrochemical sensor. The data showed that UV light could trigger the NO generation in skin with a peak at 280–285 nm (UVB range). We also observed a significant RSNO formation in irradiated human skin, with a peak at 320 nm (UV region) and at 700 nm (visible region). Pre-treatment of the human skin slice using NO(2)(−) and thiol (RSHs) scavengers confirmed the important role of these molecules in RSNO formation. These findings have important implications for clinical trials with potential for new therapies. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00418-020-01858-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.