Experts have revealed that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays trigger inflammation in skin cells, which increases the risk of skin cancer.
According to new research published in Nature Communications, prolonged exposure to UV rays causes the breakdown of an important protein in skin cells called YTHDF2, which normally helps prevent inflammation and cancer.
Experts say YTHDF2 is a fundamental protein that regulates the immune system and RNA metabolism in cells and plays a key role in controlling inflammation.
The study also found that excessive UV rays significantly reduce the levels of this protein, which leads to increased inflammation in the skin and raises the chances of cancer.
According to the report, each year approximately 5.4 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer, and 90 percent of these cases are linked to UV damage.
Scientists discovered that the YTHDF2 protein binds with a non coding RNA called U6 and prevents it from activating the TLR3 receptor, which triggers the body’s inflammatory response. However, due to the reduction of YTHDF2 under UV exposure, U6 binds abnormally with TLR3, leading to harmful inflammation.
