Studies on the energy metabolism in lichen planus

Various epidermal enzymes and cofactors were measured in patients with lichen planus and in healthy controls with the aid of Lowry's microtechniques, including enzymatic cycling. The steady-state levels of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides NAD and NADP were decreased and this was evident even in areas still free from lesions. The oxidized and reduced portions of NAD were altered indicating changed equilibria of NAD dependent dehydrogenases. Reduced NADP was more tightly controlled at the normal level which is regarded as evidence of an unaltered biosynthetic potential in this disease. In conjunction with earlier data the results indicate a preserved glycolytic and pentose shunt activity while the mitochondria display signs of dysfunction.