C/EBPβ Deficiency Enhances Keratinocyte Apoptosis after UVB-Induced DNA Damage via Regulation of the Type I IFN and TNF Responses

ABSTRACT: The epidermis is routinely subjected to DNA damage induced by solar (UVB) radiation. In addition to activating canonical DNA damage responses such as cycle cell checkpoints and DNA repair, UVB-induced DNA damage can also activate additional signaling pathways including inflammatory responses. The pathways activated downstream of UVB-induced DNA damage have a critical role in determining cellular survival to UVB radiation. Here we report that loss of CCAAT-enhancer/binding protein β (C/EBPβ) in mouse keratinocytes results in enhanced UVB-induced apoptosis through activation of extrinsic apoptosis genes cleaved caspase-8 and tBid. RNAseq and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of UVB-treated C/EBPβ-/- primary keratinocytes revealed an enrichment of inflammatory signaling pathways, including the type I interferon (IFN-I) pathway as the most enriched pathway. Numerous IFN-I stimulated genes were up-regulated in UVB-treated C/EBPβ-/- keratinocytes, including genes that regulate extrinsic apoptosis. Inhibition of the interferon / receptor or the associated kinase Tyk2 greatly reduced cell death in UVB-exposed C/EBPβ deficient keratinocytes, demonstrating the dependence of IFN signaling in C/EBPβ regulated apoptosis. The apoptosis inducing cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was identified as one of the most significant upstream regulators activated in UVB exposed C/EBPβ-/- keratinocytes compared to UVB exposed wild type control. UVB exposed C/EBPβ-/- keratinocytes displayed increased expression of TNF-α and the enhanced apoptosis in C/EBPβ-/- keratinocytes was suppressed by a TNF-α neutralizing antibody. Our results indicate that loss of C/EBPβ enhances activation of a non-canonical UVB DNA damage response pathway involving interferon and TNF signaling to induce keratinocyte cell death.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE305019 | GEO | 2026/04/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO