Korean J Dermatol.  1994 Oct;32(5):860-865.

Study on Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Psoriatic Skin

• Kim JW
• Seo SJ
• Hong CK
• Ro BI

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Superoxide dismutase(SOD) is an essential enzyme of protective defense mechanism in cellular compartments against the potential cytotoxicity of superoxide anion. It seems SOD activity is increased in psoriasis because of an increase in oxygen intermediates due to hyperoxia. However SOD activity is decreased paradoxically.
OBJECTIVE
In order to understand the pathophysiology of psoriasis and to elucidate the significance of SOD activity in keratinocyte proliferation, we measured the SOD activities in psoriatic and in normal skin.
METHODS
Authors assayed the level of SOD activities in 16 psoriatic and 16 and skin specimens, which were obtained from face/neck(1 and 4 specimens), forearm(5 and 4 specimens), trunk(6 and 3 specimens), and lower extremity( 4 and 5 specimens). We also investigated changes of SOD activity by age and regional differences of SOD activities in the psoriatic and normal skins. RESULT: First, activities of total SOD, Mn-SOD and Cu, Zn-SOD were 12.75+/-8.15, 4.28+/-3.62, 8.48+/-6.37 units/mg protein respectively in the psoriatic skin. Activities of total SOD, Mn-SOD and Cu, Zn-SoD were 17.63+/-9.10, 3.38+/-14.25+/-8.16 units/mg protein respectively in the normal skin. There as a significant difference between psoriatic and normal skins in Cu, Zn-SOD and Cu, Zn-SOD activities showed no significant differences between the age groups. Third, in sun exposed area and unexposed area, there were no significant differences between the psoriatic and normal skins in SOD activities. But it the normal skin, there were significant differences between sun exposed area and unexposed area in total SOD and Cu, Zn-SOD activities.
CONCLUSION
There is a significant difference between psoriatic and normal skins in Cu, Zn-SOD activity. Namely, the Cu, Zn-SOD activity is significantly decreased in psoriasis.

MeSH Terms

Humans
Hyperoxia
Keratinocytes
Oxygen
Psoriasis
Skin*
Solar System
Superoxide Dismutase*
Superoxides*
Oxygen
Superoxide Dismutase
Superoxides