Status of Free-Radical Oxidation and Proliferation Processes in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis and Lichen Planus

We studied the status of proliferation processes (by Ki-67 expression) and biogenesis of free radicals (by chemiluminescence method) in skin biopsy specimens from patients with atopic dermatitis and lichen planus. The index of Ki-67-positive nuclei significantly (p<0.05) increased to 28.40 +/- 2.00% in patients with dermatitis and to 32.6 +/- 1.9% in patients with lichen planus vs. 8.65 +/- 1.31% in the reference sample. Decompensated accumulation of free-radical oxidation products and inhibition of detoxification systems in skin biopsy specimens indicate the development of local oxidative stress. After therapy consisting of two 10-day courses of thymodepressin injections (0.1%, 1.0 ml) over 30 days, normalization of epidermis proliferation was observed. Labeling index in atopic dermatitis and lichen planus significantly decreased (p<0.05) to 17.00 +/- 1.87 and 10.9 +/- 1.1%, respectively. The role of free radicals in the development of hyperregeneratory processes during dermatoses is discussed.