Immunocytochemical demonstration of reduced Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase levels following topical application of dithranol and sodium lauryl sulphate: an indication of the role of oxidative stress in acute irritant contact dermatitis.

Oxidative stress is known to be implicated in the inflammation induced by the anti-psoriatic irritant, dithranol. In this study, we wished to investigate whether this is reflected in the levels of the antioxidant enzyme, Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, as detected by quantitative immunocytochemistry, and whether similar changes also occur following exposure to an irritant not normally associated with reactive oxygen species generation, namely sodium lauryl sulphate. Analysis of biopsies from patch test sites revealed that significant reductions in the epidermal levels of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase were induced by both dithranol and sodium lauryl sulphate, although the time course of diminished activity was different for each irritant. Our findings suggest that oxidative stress plays a general role in the pathophysiology of acute irritant contact dermatitis.