Anti-oxidant effects of retinoids on inflammatory skin diseases

It is well known that retinoids are effective in the treatment of various dermatological disorders. It has been reported that retinoids have inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide (O2-) by stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In the present study, we investigated the effects of retinoids on the generation of O2- and other reactive oxygen species (ROS), including OH., H2O2 and chemiluminescence, by zymosan-stimulated PMNs and in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, because these potent ROS may play an important role in PMN-mediated skin inflammation. It was found that some retinoids had antioxidant effects in the PMN system; however, apart from the effect of tretinoin and Ro 10-1670 on OH. generation, none of the retinoids studied inhibited ROS generation in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. On the basis of these results, we discuss a possible mechanism connected with the role of ROS by which retinoids have favourable effects on several inflammatory skin disorders.