EFFECT OF TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS ON THE ACTIVITY OF SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE IN HUMAN SKIN IN-VITRO

We measurd the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human skin from tissue homogenates after topical application of hydrocortisone-21-acet ate and clobetasol proprionate, dissolved in propylene glycol, SOD was measured spectrophotometrically, SOD activity was higher in the treat ed skin than in the control untreated skin, We separated epidermis fro m the dermis by curettage and measured the level of SOD in each homoge nized layer; SOD activity was higher in the epidermis compared to the dermis in untreated skin, After corticoid application, SOD activity wa s higher in the dermis compared to the epidermis to a degree dependent on corticoid potency, These experiments demonstrate that the epidermi s may have a role in the barrier function of the skin by its antioxida nt capacity and that the dermis is the major location of the metabolic activity in the skin, On the other hand, our results suggest that the se corticosteroids may stimulate SOD production and may release antiox idants, This could be another anti-inflammatory property of corticoste roids.