The Role of the Antioxidative Defense System in Papulopustular Acne

Abstract

Acne vulgaris frequently occurs in the second decade of life. The pathogenesis of the disease is multifactorial. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of reactive oxygen species in inflammation of acne by determining the activity of antioxidant defense enzymes in leukocytes. Fifty-two patients with papulopustular type acne vulgaris and 36 healthy controls were enrolled. The severity of the disease was examined by the Global Acne Grading System, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) enzymes as well as the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were detected in leukocytes. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly decreased in the acne group. CAT activity and TBARS level were higher in patients than controls. Only a poor correlation was detected between GSH-Px activity and severity of the disease. Antioxidative defense enzymes are impaired in papulopustular acne, and drugs with antioxidative effects might be valuable in treatment.

Clinical implications of lipid peroxidation in acne vulgaris: old wine in new bottles

“…Many of these investigations have examined the extent to which a potential oxidative stress burden in the skin might be reflected in the blood of acne patients. In a study involving 52 patients with papulopustular acne, researchers reported that blood antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GSH-Px, were significantly lower vs. controls [30]. Presumably, the decreased activity is a result of the consistent burden of oxidative stress.…”

Oxidative stress in acne vulgaris

“…Four major factors contribute to the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris: hyperplasia of sebaceous glands and increased sebum secretion, hypercornification of pilosebaceous duct, abnormal colonization, particularly by P. acnes , and inflammation 1–5 . Recent studies on the aetiopathogenesis of acne vulgaris have focussed on the role of oxygen free radicals and antioxidant enzymes 6–9 …”

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in patients with acne vulgaris and its association with disease severity

“…Vitamin D, as an antioxidant agent, would have positive impression on the disease (19,20). It seems that vitamin D makes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) which were found at lower levels in papulo-pustu-lar cases of acne vulgaris by some Authors (21). Other dietary factors like dairy productions have been raised by investigators in terms of the occurrence of acne vulgaris.…”