Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39718470›Full record

ArticleCancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.)2025

Ursolic Acid as a Protective Agent against UVB-Induced Metabolic and Epigenetic Alterations in Human Skin Keratinocytes: An Omics-Based Study.

Shanyi Li, Zixin Li, Hsiao-Chen Dina Kuo, Ah-Ng Kong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Biological Effects ofPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Shanyi Li *Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, PR China.ORCID 0000-0003-0208-0481
Zixin Li *Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, PR China.ORCID 0009-0004-3289-4990
Hsiao-Chen Dina KuoDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.ORCID 0000-0002-0505-7183
Ah-Ng KongDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.ORCID 0000-0002-9273-4217

Funding

Translational Research Support CoreP30ES005022 · NIEHS · UNIV OF MED/DENT NJ-R W JOHNSON MED SCH · PI BRIAN T BUCKLEY · 1988 to 2026
$47.4M
Epigenetic mechanisms of indole-3-carbinol/diindolylemthane and triterpenoids in prevention of prostate inflammation and related diseaseR01AT009152 · NCCIH · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · PI KONG, AH-NG TONY · 2015 to 2019
$3.3M
Prevention of skin cancer by phytochemicals via Nrf2 and epigeneticsR01CA200129 · NCI · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · PI KONG, AH-NG TONY · 2016 to 2020
$1.8M
National Cancer Institute (NCI) R01CA200129National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (OAM) R01AT009152NCCIH NIH HHS R01 AT009152NCI NIH HHS R01 CA200129NIEHS NIH HHS P30 ES005022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to assess how ursolic acid (UA) can protect human skin keratinocytes from damage caused by UVB radiation. Utilizing an omics-based approach, we characterized the features of photodamage and investigated the potential of UA to reverse HaCaT cell subpopulation injury caused by UVB radiation. The most significant changes in metabolite levels after UA treatment were in pathways associated with phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and arginine and proline metabolism. Treatment with UA can reverse the levels of certain metabolites, including creatinine, creatine phosphate, and succinic acid. Pathways activated by UA treatment in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells were associated with several biological processes, including the positive regulation of protein modification process, cell division, and enzyme-linked receptor protein signaling pathway. Treatment with UA demonstrates the capability to mitigate the effects of UVB radiation on specific genes, including S100 calcium-binding protein A9 and IL6 receptor. DNA/CpG methylation indicates that UA can partially reverse some of the alterations in the UVB-induced CpG methylome. Utilizing integrated RNA sequencing and methylation sequencing data, starburst plots illustrate the correlation between mRNA expression and CpG methylation status. UA potentially influences the metabolic pathway of glycerophospholipid metabolism by modulating the expression of several key enzymes, including phospholipase A2 group IIA and lipin 2. Altogether, these results indicate that UVB radiation induces metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic changes, and transcriptomic shifts. Meanwhile, UA demonstrates the capacity to inhibit or reduce the severity of these alterations, which may underlie its potential protective role against skin damage caused by UVB exposure. Prevention Relevance: Our research indicates that UA has the potential to mitigate or lessen the impact of UVB radiation, which is known to cause metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic alterations, and transcriptomic changes. These effects could be responsible for UA's possible protective function against skin damage induced by UVB exposure.

Indexed as

Epigenesis, GeneticKeratinocytesRadiation-Protective AgentsSkinTriterpenesUltraviolet RaysDNA MethylationHumansUrsolic AcidRadiation-Protective AgentsTriterpenesUrsolic Acid

Identifiers

PMID39718470
PMCPMC11875927

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.