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Published on: September 17, 2021
Local oxidative stress in interdigital tinea pedis
Perihan Ozturk1, Ozer Arican, Ergul B Kurutas
1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. drperihanozturk@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Several skin diseases are believed to be associated with oxidative stress. Tinea pedis is an infection of the feet caused by fungi. The infectious diseases caused by dermatophytes are mainly related to the enzymes produced by these fungi. The cutaneous oxidative stress status of tinea pedis has not been demonstrated in the published work up to now. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in affected skin areas in a group of patients with interdigital tinea pedis. Thirty-one consecutive patients with a diagnosis of unilateral interdigital tinea pedis were enrolled. The samples were obtained by scraping the skin surface. Oxidative stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and malondialdehyde levels were measured spectrophotometrically. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and the levels of malondialdehyde were significantly higher on the lesional area than the non-lesional area (P < 0.001). According to sex and fungal subtypes, there was no significant difference in the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with tinea pedis (P > 0.05). Our results suggested that antioxidant defense of lesional skin surface was higher compared to non-lesional skin. This is possibly due to a compensatory response to various fungal infections and thereby protects the cells against oxidative damage.
Insights
This study shows that skin affected by tinea pedis (fungal foot infection) has higher levels of oxidative stress biomarkers. The skin
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Biochemistry
- Mycology
Background:
- Oxidative stress is linked to various skin diseases.
- Tinea pedis is a common fungal infection of the feet.
- The role of oxidative stress in tinea pedis has not been previously investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the oxidative stress status in skin affected by interdigital tinea pedis.
- To compare oxidative stress biomarkers between lesional and non-lesional skin in patients with tinea pedis.
Main Methods:
- Spectrophotometric measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and malondialdehyde (MDA).
- Samples collected via skin scraping from 31 patients with unilateral interdigital tinea pedis.
- Comparison of biomarker levels between lesional and non-lesional skin areas.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher activities of SOD and catalase were observed in lesional skin compared to non-lesional skin (P < 0.001).
- Significantly higher levels of MDA were found in lesional skin compared to non-lesional skin (P < 0.001).
- No significant differences in biomarker levels were found based on sex or fungal subtypes.
Conclusions:
- Lesional skin in tinea pedis exhibits elevated oxidative stress biomarkers.
- Increased antioxidant defense in affected skin may be a compensatory response to fungal infection.
- These findings suggest oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of tinea pedis.
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