BackgroundLipid peroxide (LPO) in comedones, which are produced as a result of sebum oxidation, might potentially induce interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and exacerbate comedogenesis and inflammatory changes in comedones.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship of proinflammatory cytokines and LPO levels in the extracts of comedones with the acne of clinical difference between smokers and non-smokers, and with the severity and distribution of the acne lesions.MethodsTwenty-two non-smoking and 21 smoking adult acne patients were evaluated by comedone extraction and measurement of proinflammatory cytokines and LPO levels. Acne severity and distribution of the lesions were also analyzed.ResultsRelative to the non-smoking group, smokers had significantly higher levels of IL-1α and LPO in comedones. Their levels showed a positive correlation. However, there were no statistically significant difference between the severity or distribution of the disease and the levels of LPO and IL-1α in comedones.ConclusionSmoking may be involved in the pathogenesis of adult acne by increasing the oxidative stress that results in subsequent accumulation of LPO in comedones.

Background: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a multifunctional growth factor, has three isoforms: TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3. Different isoforms of TGF-β are associated with different proliferation and differentiation states of the epidermis. Narrow band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) emits a concentrated UVB source of 311 nm. NBUVB 1,000 mJ/cm 2 induces apoptosis in approximately 50% of keratinocytes.Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether irradiation with NBUVB would alter the expression and production of TGF-β1, 2, and 3.Methods: We measured TGF-β1, 2, and 3 mRNA and TGF-β1 and 2 protein levels at 800, 1,000, and 1,200 mJ/cm 2 for 24 hours and 48 hours. Results: TGF-β1 mRNA levels were increased at both 24 hr and 48 hr, TGF-β2 mRNA levels were decreased at both 24 hr and 48 hr, and TGF-β3 mRNA levels were increased at 24 hr and similar to control at 48 hr. TGF-β1 protein levels were increased at 48 hr but decreased at 24 hr. TGF-β2 protein levels were decreased at both 24 hr and 48 hr.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of the lesional epidermis. In pathogenesis, inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ from infiltrated T-cells seem to act a central role. Although many chronic inflammatory conditions can lead to cancer development, there is no evidence of increased incidence of cancer in psoriatic skin lesion.Telomerase is an enzyme-reverse transcriptase that protects chromosomes from degradation by stabilizing telomere length. Recent studies suggest that telomerase activity may be responsible for some part of nonmalignant proliferatory skin disease. In addition, there is evidence that telomerase activity is related with proliferation and differentiation of keratinocyte.In this experiment, we tried to evaluate the effect of TNF-α and IFN-γ to the telomerase activity and its differential effect thought the passage. The results showed increased telomerase activity according to stimulation and this extent was different from the various passage. These results suggest that the key cytokines of psoriasis, namely, TNF-α and IFN-γ increase telomerase activity at proliferative cells, which could contribute to hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of lesional keratinocyte. Moreover, this increased telomerase activity could partially explain the cancer incidence of psoriasis that is not increased compared to the normal population.