extra credit report #5

Why we sunburn 

• Researchers have discovered a molecular signal that triggers sunburns

• When our skin cells are exposed to UVB radiation, a specific form of RNA is damaged. The damaged RNA is then released as a signal of solar injury and triggers the healthy cells to create the production of factors that induce inflammation

• The point of the entire process is to remove the sun-damaged cells, because they  could turn cancerous if not cleared away 

• People with certain auto immune disorders are very sensitive to sun exposure, and blocking the RNA pathway could be a way to reduce inflammation in these patients. However, blocking the RNA in healthy patients just to reduce the risk of sunburn could be dangerous because this process is an important way for the body to heal and get rid of damaged cells 

• "The inflammatory response is a normal part of our protection against the sun", said Dr. Gallo, a professor of medicine at the University of San Diego 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-we-sunburn