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The sunburn reaction is the most common consequence of human exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and is mediated at least in part by interleukin- 6 (IL-6). The aim of this study was to determine if DNA is a major chromophore involved in the induction of IL-6 following UV irradiation of a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line (KB), and of normal human epidermal keratinocytes. We first confirmed that IL-6 release was associated with enhanced levels of IL-6 mRNA transcripts. The wavelength dependence for IL-6 release was then investigated by irradiating the cells at defined wavelengths (254, 302, 313, 334, and 365 nm) with a monochromator. The maximum effect on IL-6 release was observed at 254 nm with only low levels of induction observed at wavelengths above 313 nm. The wavelength dependence for UV- induced IL-6 release was similar to that for DNA absorption or for the induction of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD). To determine whether UV- induced DNA damage mediated IL-6 secretion, the role of CPD was investigated by treating keratinocytes with photosomes (photolyase encapsulated in liposomes) followed by photoreactivating light. This photoreversal procedure led to a reduction in the levels of the UVC-induced secretion of IL-6, which in normal human keratinocytes was unambiguously associated with repair of CPD. We conclude that the release of IL-6 from human keratinocytes following short-wave UVC and UVB irradiation is mediated by DNA damage and that CPD play an important role in this process.