BARRIER AND TRANSPORT PECULIARITIES OF PLASMIC MEMBRANES IN PSORIASIS

Mavrov I., Goncharenko M., Brodskaya O., Yereschenko E., Yermoshenko E., Kondakova A., Semko G.

Ukrainian Research Institute of Dermatology & Venerology, 7/9, Chernyshevskogo str., Kharkov 61057, Ukraine, Fax: (0572)475508, e-mail: apb@venera.kharkov.ua

The membrane and psoriasis is just the problem facing the researchers of the Institute for more than 10 years. The Institute plays a leading role in the field of dermatology and venerology defining their strategy and tactics and the line of investigations in Ukraine.

Despite the great scientific interest to such severe forms of dermatosis as psoriasis, the question of key mechanisms initiating this disease is still to be answered. The number of people suffering from psoriasis amounts up to 10,000,000 in the world and 2% in Ukraine. The currently existing methods of psoriasis treatment are not nearly so efficient to yield the desired therapeutical effect. It follows from the above, that study of psoriasis pathogenesis and development of more effective new methods are medically important.

The complex investigation carried out by a group of scientists of our institute is the first in its kind. Psoriasis was found to cause changes in the membrane transport properties for K+, Na+ and Ca+ , namely:

_increase K+ passive transport;

_disturbance of potassium ions transport through calcium-dependent channels; _increased activity of Ca- and K/NaATPase;

_K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn ions redistribution between the cell and medium, i.e. growth of Ca2+ level in the cell against the background of increased content of Mg2+ and Na+ as well as decreased level of Zn+;

_disturbance of energy exchange ( increased ATP pool ) and change in protein and lipid content in the cell plasmic membrane.

An activation of the processes of lipid peroxidation has been observed in the cell of the patients as well as a suppression of antioxidant system that creates favorable conditions for quick lipid and protein damages in plasmic membranes.

Considerable changes in Ca2+ exchange have been found: 1)disturbance of membrane permeability for calcium ions, and 2) unbalanced action of parathyroid hormone and calcitoninum that intensifies the osteoporosis in patients suffering from this disease over many years.

The observed modification of cell membranes barrier and transport properties is realized through the changes in the functional state of the cell and points to disturbance of the structural and functional state of plasmic membranes including the cell response to proliferative signals.

Relying on the above investigations, a combined program of therapy has been devised using the Ca-antagonistic action preparations together with antioxidants, physiotherapeutic procedures, UV and PUVA-therapy. For better efficiency of the above therapy, a method of mathematical modeling of calcium exchange in patients has been used which permits to choose the therapeutical complex to match individuals requirements and to determine the course dose of Ca-antagonist preparations and duration of the course. Depending on the form of psoriasis, the therapeutical efficiency of the complex therapy program proposed amounts to 86-89 per cent.

For archive of summaries of bio-medical researches from Kharkov (Ukraine) universities and institutes contact: Nataliya Babenko, Head of Department of Physiology of Ontogenesis, Institute of Biology, Kharkov National University, e-mail: babenko@univer.kharkov.ua, fax: (0572)352923.