[Examination of serum nitric oxide in Yusho patients].

In order to evaluate the influence of oxidative stress by PCB, we measured serum nitric oxide (NO) in Yusho patients by the Griess method, which detected nitrite (NO2-) formed by the oxidization of NO. Serum NO2- concentrations were significantly increased in Yusho patients as compared to healthy controls, but no correlation was detected between serum NO2- concentration and PCB or PCQ level in Yusho patients. The relationship was analyzed between serum NO2- concentration and certain parameters such as clinical symptoms, habits and clinical data. Serum NO2- level had a positive correlation with CPK in male patients, but not in female and all Yusho patients. Furthermore, no mutual relation was detected between serum NO2- concentration and the other parameters such as blood pressure, smoking and each laboratory data. Therefore, the possibility is considered that Yusho is one of the diseases which show the increase of serum NO.

[Site specific difference of PCB concentration in the skin derived sebum and collection of excreted sebum with commercial sebum-remover sheet].

The PCB concentrations in the sebum of Yusho patients showed a site specific difference. It was higher in the sebum derived from the chest (1128.0 +/- 374.1 ng/g), the upper arm (1460.0 +/- 350.7 ng/g) and the femur (1456.0 +/- 488.5 ng/g) than from the forehead (758.0 +/- 233.7 ng/g) and the upper back skin (638.0 +/- 165.3 ng/g). To remove PCB in the sebum, a sebum-remover sheet was applied on the femur of two patients. During the four times of application, the mean amounts of removed sebun was 10.5 mg and 28.3 mg respectively. These results are unsatisfactory for practical treatment of Yusho patient. However, this approach seems to be safe and convenient and modification to collect large scale of sebum from the skin is required.

Topical vitamin D3 downregulates IgE-mediated murine biphasic cutaneous reactions.

Hapten-specific and mast-cell-dependent biphasic (immediate and delayed-onset) cutaneous reactions were induced in a murine model by intravenous injection of anti-DNP IgE antibodies followed by a skin test. Four daily applications of topical 1 alpha,24(OH)2D3 ointment significantly inhibited both the immediate and the delayed-onset cutaneous reactions in a dose-dependent fashion, as well as the croton-oil-induced cutaneous reaction and DNFB contact sensitivity reaction. 1 alpha,24(OH)2D3 itself did not show any sensitizing or irritant potential. The inhibitory effect of 1 alpha,24(OH)2D3 on these reactions was limited to the application site and no systemic effect was observed. Another vitamin D3 analog 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, also showed an inhibitory effect on IgE-mediated cutaneous reactions. These results suggest that topically applied 1 alpha,24(OH)2D3 might modulate IgE-mediated cutaneous reactions and could thus be useful in the treatment of certain human cutaneous disorders other than psoriasis and related keratinizing disorders.

Verruciform xanthoma in a psoriatic patient under PUVA therapy.

A patient with psoriasis vulgaris developed verruciform xanthoma (VX) on the scrotum during psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA). Although it is uncertain whether VX was induced by PUVA therapy, we report the first case of VX which appeared in a patient with psoriasis during PUVA therapy. We speculate that UV light may be one of the etiologic factors triggering VX in this case.

Intralesional steroid-therapy-induced reduction of plasma interleukin-6 and improvement of cutaneous plasmacytosis.

We describe a case of primary multiple cutaneous plasmacytosis successfully treated by intralesional steroid therapy. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels reduced in parallel with the disease activity. Intralesional steroid reduced IL-6 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while neither PUVA therapy nor intralesional recombinant interferon-gamma resulted in a benefit and plasma IL-6 levels did not decrease. It was suggested that IL-6 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of this condition.

In situ expression of messenger RNA of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 in psoriasis: interleukin-6 involved in formation of psoriatic lesions.

Psoriasis is a disease of abnormal proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells. Several cytokines released by keratinocytes are implicated as factors responsible for this pathological condition of the epidermis. In order to elucidate the role of these cytokines in psoriasis, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 in psoriatic epidermis was investigated using biotin-labelled complementary DNA (cDNA) of the cytokines. Messenger RNA of IL-1 alpha was weakly detected in some normal healthy epidermis specimens and more strongly in all the perilesional uninvolved psoriatic epidermis specimens. It was also expressed in the transitional zone between uninvolved and fully developed psoriatic skin, but was not expressed in lesional skin. In contrast, IL-6 mRNA was rarely expressed in normal healthy epidermis, but was expressed in perilesional uninvolved psoriatic epidermis, in the transitional zone and in the fully developed lesional epidermis, with the maximum intensity in the transitional zone. Expression of mRNA of IL-6 receptor showed a similar tendency to that of IL-6. It was expressed in psoriatic epidermis, most strongly in the transitional zone, but not in normal healthy epidermis. IL-6 was demonstrated immunohistochemically in psoriatic epidermis, but IL-6 receptor was demonstrated only in the transitional zone. Thus IL-6 and its receptor expression correlated well with the formation of psoriatic lesions where IL-1 may initiate their expression. IL-6 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.