Oxidative stress in keratinocytes as an etiopathogenetic factor of psoriasis

A new etiopathogenetic concept of psoriasis is proposed, which considers psoriasis as a typical inflammatory process characterized by increased antioxidant activity and overexpression of apoptotic receptors. Under these conditions, hyperstimulation of germinative layer cells proliferation dramatically accelerates keratinocyte passage towards apoptotic effect of atmospheric oxygen and its reactive species dooming to death cells with enhanced expression of apoptotic receptors. Oxidative stress of nondifferentiated keratinocytes triggers the formation of defective horny layer, the key mechanism of psoriasis.