phosphocreatine and Skin-Diseases

The skin has the unique ability to survive ischemia associated with skin grafts, flaps and hair transplantation procedures. Spectroscopic data later confirmed by chromatography, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology techniques identified the presence of large quantities of phosphocreatine in human skin. Phosphocreatine molecules regenerate ATP cellular reserves during ischemia. This reaction is mediated by creatine phosphokinase enzymes that were also isolated and studied in normal and diseased skin.. Literature search revealed important contributions by US, Swiss, German, French, Scandinavian and Japanese investigators in the development and understanding of this research field.. Serum creatine phosphokinase levels are elevated in burn victims and patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis. Phosphocreatine concentration and creatine phosphokinase activity are elevated in psoriatic skin and in non-melanoma malignancies in comparison with normal skin. Furthermore, skin phosphocreatine and creatine phosphokinase enzymes are localized almost exclusively within the epidermis and in hair follicles. Finally, phosphocreatine and creatine phosphokinase enzymes help to protect skin from UV damage.. Clearly, this research area is only starting to be appreciated by the scientific community. Topical and systemic phosphocreatine administration appears to reverse photodamage and improve wound healing. Spectroscopic monitoring of phosphocreatine and related phosphometabolites can be potentially used to monitor disease activity and respond to therapy in psoriasis, leg ulcers, skin malignancies and other skin conditions.

Topics: Biomarkers; Creatine Kinase; Humans; Phosphocreatine; Skin; Skin Diseases

To investigate the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in characterizing the metabolic and functional status of muscles in patients with amyopathic dermatomyositis (DM) and to compare the findings with those in patients with classic myopathic DM.. Nine patients with amyopathic DM, 11 patients with myopathic DM, and 11 normal individuals were studied. MRI images of thigh muscles were obtained, and T1 and T2 relaxation times were calculated. Biochemical status was quantitated with P-31 MRS, by determining concentrations of phosphate metabolites during rest and exercise.. Patients with amyopathic DM showed no muscle inflammation, and MRS data obtained during rest were normal. During exercise at 25% and 50% maximum voluntary contractile force, the MRS data revealed significant differences between amyopathic DM patients and control subjects indicating inefficient metabolism. In contrast, muscles of patients with myopathic DM showed inflammation and metabolic abnormalities even during rest.. Metabolic deficiencies in patients with amyopathic DM were unmasked by exercise, suggesting that the 2 DM syndromes may share muscle abnormalities. MRI/MRS may be useful in diagnosis and optimization of treatment.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Dermatomyositis; Exercise; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Middle Aged; Muscles; Muscular Diseases; Phosphates; Phosphocreatine; Phosphorus Isotopes; Rest; Skin Diseases; Work Capacity Evaluation

We have used a rectangular surface coil and chemical shift imaging to conduct in vivo localized 31P NMR metabolic studies in a rat dorsal skin flap model. This approach permits regional comparisons without manipulation of either coil position or subject within the magnet bore. Both the PCr:Pi ratio (reflecting ischemia insult) and the PCr:ATP ratio (reflecting phosphagen reserves) decreased as functions of time and distance from the vascular pedicle. The maximum change was nearly 6-fold for the PCr:Pi ratio, and 3-fold for the PCr:ATP ratio. Signal contamination from subjacent muscle is constant and does not interfere with the metabolic evaluations of skin flaps. This technique may facilitate a better understanding of cutaneous metabolic derangements, such as burns and skin flaps used in reconstructive surgery, as well as studies of pharmacologic regimens developed for their treatment. It also holds potential for application in the study of congenital and neoplastic metabolic disorders of skin.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Burns; Energy Metabolism; Hempa; Ischemia; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Models, Structural; Muscle, Skeletal; Phosphates; Phosphocreatine; Phosphorus Isotopes; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Skin; Skin Diseases; Skin Neoplasms; Surgical Flaps; Time Factors

Phosphocreatine molecules (PCR) in skin regenerate adenosine triphosphate and help cutaneous tissue survive ischemia associated with skin flaps, grafts, and hair transplantation procedures. In addition, PCR concentration in psoriasis is elevated many times above normal, indicating either overproduction of PCR by mitochondrial creatine phosphokinase (CPK) enzymes or a defect in cytosol CPK enzymatic activity. Skin CPK isoenzymes, before this study, have not been identified. Herein, for the first time, cytosol CPK enzymatic activity was measured in normal and psoriatic, involved and uninvolved skin, skin tumors, and mouse skin and keratinocyte cell cultures. Creatine phosphokinase MM is the major isoenzyme in normal, uninvolved psoriatic and mouse skin. Total CPK enzymatic activity was increased in psoriasis and skin tumors. These data clearly indicate that increased PCR concentration in a psoriatic skin is not a result of decreased cytosol CPK enzymatic activity.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Cell Line; Creatine Kinase; Cytosol; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Isoenzymes; Keratinocytes; Male; Mice; Phosphocreatine; Psoriasis; Skin; Skin Diseases; Skin Neoplasms

A high pressure liquid chromatography technique for measuring phosphocreatine and adenine nucleotides in human cutaneous tissue is described. The presence of phosphocreatine in human skin was confirmed by this analytic method. Molar concentration of phosphocreatine and adenine nucleotides were determined in normal skin and in benign and malignant skin lesions. The preliminary results suggest that absolute amounts of phosphocreatine and adenine nucleotides and phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate ratios in malignant skin neoplasms and benign cutaneous lesions are different from those measured in normal nonischemic human skin.

Topics: Adenine Nucleotides; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Male; Mice; Myocardium; Phosphocreatine; Skin; Skin Diseases