What is the p53 pathway?

The p53 pathway is crucially involved in cellular functions related to the repair and regeneration of cells. Specifically, in the context of skin exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet B (UVB) light upregulates the activity of p53 in the skin's keratinocytes, which are a type of skin cell. This upregulation is necessary for downstream hormonal changes such as increases in ovarian and testicular size, testosterone, and estrogen levels. These data point to the importance of UVB light exposure for activating this pathway and influencing various physiological changes 1.