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Published on: July 28, 2016
Myeloperoxidase as a biomarker of skin irritation and inflammation
M A Trush1, P A Egner, T W Kensler
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Abstract:
Topical exposure to many occupational and environmental chemicals is often accompanied by the induction of a cutaneous inflammatory response characterized by the influx of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). In this study, the accumulation of myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme found at high content in PMNs, was used as a biomarker to assess the inflammatory response to a number of well characterized skin irritants and tumour promoters. Of the chemicals examined, there was a good agreement between MPO accumulation and morphometric indicators of PMNs. Therefore, it was suggested that MPO accumulation could be an additional and useful toxicological tool for determining the dermal irritancy of chemicals.
Insights
Myeloperoxidase (MPO) accumulation in skin effectively indicates inflammation caused by chemical exposure. This enzyme serves as a reliable biomarker for assessing dermal irritancy and potential toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Dermatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chemical exposure can trigger skin inflammation, involving polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs).
- Assessing dermal inflammatory responses is crucial for understanding chemical toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate myeloperoxidase (MPO) accumulation as a biomarker for skin inflammation.
- To determine the utility of MPO as a toxicological tool for assessing dermal irritancy.
Main Methods:
- Measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in skin following chemical exposure.
- Comparing MPO accumulation with morphometric indicators of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs).
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was observed between MPO accumulation and PMN influx.
- MPO levels accurately reflected the inflammatory response to various skin irritants and tumor promoters.
Conclusions:
- Myeloperoxidase (MPO) accumulation is a sensitive indicator of chemical-induced dermal inflammation.
- MPO serves as a valuable toxicological tool for assessing chemical irritancy and potential skin damage.
