Summary
The cytochemical expression of epidermal peroxidase and cytochrome oxidase activity was recently well documented in normal human skin.We report here its expression in basal and squamous cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, psoriasis, allergic contact dermatitis, seborrheic keratoses, and autosomal dominant ichthyosis vulgaris. The two enzyme activities were evaluated using the diaminobenzidine method. If present, the two enzymes were always localized in the same organelles as in normal epidermis endogenous peroxidase in the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum, and cytochrome oxidase in mitochondria. In basal and squamous carcinomas, actinic keratoses and psoriasis, the keratinocytes lost their peroxidase activity, but maintained their cytochrome oxidase activity. In seborrheic keratoses, allergic contact dermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris, the cytochrome oxidase activity was greatly reduced or abolished in keratinocytes, Langerhans' cells, and melanocytes, whereas the peroxidase activity was present as in normal epidermis. These results indicate that the two peroxidatic enzymes studied are not interrelated and alternatively suppressed by different cellular dysfunctions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angermüller S, Fahimi HD (1981) Selective cytochemical localization of peroxidase, cytochrome oxidase and catalase in rat liver with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine. Histochemistry 71:33–44
Bichar D, Bonaventura J, Bonaventura C (1982) Cytochrome c oxidase binding of hydrogen peroxide. Biochemistry 21:2661–2666
Deinmann W, Seitz M, Gensa D, Fahimi HD (1984) Endogenous peroxidase in the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum of human monocytes in vitro: association with arachidonic acid metabolism. Blood 64:491–498
Dubertret L, Breton-Gorius J, Fosse M, Touraine R (1981) Peroxidatic activity in endoplasmic reticulum of normal human Langerhans cells. J Reticuloendothel Soc 30:313–316
Dubertret L, Breton-Gorius J, Fosse M, Touraine R (1982) Diaminobenzidine cytochemistry in unfixed human epidermis: a marker for epidermal differentiation and for mitochondria. J Invest Dermatol 78:477–481
Fahimi HD (1969) Cytochemical localization of peroxidatic activity of catalase in rat hepatic microbodies. J Cell Biol 43:275–288
Fahimi HD (1970) The fine structural localization of endogenous and exogenous peroxidase activity in Kupffer cells of rat liver. J Cell Biol 47:247–262
Herzog V, Fahimi HD (1976) Intracellular distinction between peroxidase and catalase in exocrine cells or rat lacrimal gland: a biochemical and cytochemical study. Histochemistry 46:273–286
Josephy PD, Eling TE, Mason RP (1983) An electron spin resonance study of the activation of benzidine by peroxidases. Mol Pharmacol 23:766–770
Josephy PD, Eling TE, Mason RP (1983) Cooxidation of benzidine by prostaglandine synthetase and comparison with the action of horseradish peroxidase. J Biol Chem 258:5561–5569
Litwin JA (1981) Ultrastructural demonstration of endogenous peroxidatic activity in mammalian arterial wall. Histochemistry 72:459–466
Litwin JA (1984) Peroxidase-positive endothelial cells in rat liver. Cell Tissue Res 238:635–642
Morton KC, King CM, Vaught JB, Wang CY, Lee MS, Marnett LJ (1983) Prostaglandin H synthase-mediated reaction of carcinogenic arylamines with tRNA and homopolyribonucleotides. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 111:96–103
Poole RK (1982) The oxygen reactions of bacterial cytochrome oxidases. Trends Biochem Sci 7:32–34
Reith A, Schüler B (1972) Demonstration of cytochrome oxidase activity with diaminobenzidine study. J Histochem Cytochem 20:583–589
Rice JR, Kissinger RT (1982) Cooxidation of benzidine by horseradish peroxidase and subsequent formation of possible thioether conjugates of benzidine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 104:1312–1318
Roels F, Wisse E, De Prest B, Van der Meulen J (1975) Cytochemical discrimination between catalases and peroxidases using diaminobenzidine. Histochemistry 41:281–312
Rollings TE, Smith WL (1980) Subcellular localization of prostaglandin-forming cyclooxygenase in Swiss mouse 3T3 fibroblasts by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. J Biol Chem 255:4872–4875
Ruzicka T (1985) Leukotriene und Monohydroxyfettsäuren: Kontroverse Rolle in der Pathogenese der Psoriasis. Hautarzt 36:255–258
Ruzicka T, Vitto A, Printz MP (1983) Epidermal arachidonate lipoxygenase. Biochim Biophys Acta 751:369–374
Seligman AM, Karnovsky MJ, Wasserkrug HL, Hanker JS (1968) Nondroplet ultrastructural demonstration of cytochrome oxidase activity with a polymerizing osmiophilic reagent, diaminobenzidine (DAB). J Cell Biol 38:1–14
Walzer C, Frenk E (1983) Ultrastructural demonstration of endogenous peroxidase activity in mammalian epidermis. Histochemistry 78:491–501
Zenser TV, Mattamal MB, Davis BB (1979) Cooxidation of benzidine by renal medullary prostaglandin cyclooxygenase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 211:460–464
Ziboh VA, Casebolt TL, Marcelo CL, Voorhees JJ (1984) Lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid by subcellular preparations from murine keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol 83:248–251
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Walzer, C., Frenk, E. Cytochemical expression of epidermal peroxidase and cytochrome oxidase activities in pathological skin conditions of man. Arch Dermatol Res 278, 460–464 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455164
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455164