BACKGROUNDReceptor interacting protein 1 (RIP1), which plays a key role in apoptosis, cell survival and programmed cell necrosis, is one of the most important proteins in the RIP family. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of RIP1 in the apoptosis, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) in fibroblasts.

METHODSsiRNA targeting RIP1 was used to silence RIP1 expression in the NIH3T3 fibroblasts. The mRNA and protein levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3, caspase-3 and -8 activities, and ROS activities were determined by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunoblotting, caspase activity assay, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 were significantly increased in RIP1 deficient NIH3T3 cells at 24 hours after UVB treatment. At 24 hours after exposure to UVB, RIP1 deficient NIH3T3 cells presented apoptotic morphology, and the apoptosis rate was significantly increased accompanied by pronounced increase in caspase-8 and -3 activities. ROS production was inhibited by UVB at 12 hours in RIP1 deficient NIH3T3 cells.

CONCLUSIONRIP1 is involved in NIH3T3 cell damage induced by UVB via participating in the apoptosis, expression of MMPs and ROS production.