A skin explant model for studying UV-induced DNA damage and repair.

Summary

The authors standardized an ex vivo mouse skin explant protocol that preserves epidermal and dermal architecture and viability markers, enabling robust assessment of solar UV-induced DNA damage and repair. The model minimizes animal use and is suited for testing photoprotective agents, topical formulations, and cosmetics with improved physiological relevance.

Key Findings

• Established an ex vivo mouse skin explant protocol using intact dermal and epidermal layers maintained in culture.
• Validated tissue viability and UV-induced DNA damage/repair using morphology, viability markers, and DNA damage markers.
• Model preserves in vivo-like physiological responses over short incubations and is applicable to photoprotection, topical treatments, drug development, and cosmetics.

Clinical Implications

Facilitates preclinical screening and optimization of sunscreens and photoprotective topicals by capturing tissue-level responses; may streamline safety assessments before human testing.

Limitations

• Short viable window limits long-term studies
• Mouse skin may not fully recapitulate human skin physiology and lacks systemic factors

Future Directions

Adapt protocols to human skin explants, extend tissue viability, integrate high-content imaging and -omics readouts, and validate against known photoprotectants and topical drugs.