A possible role for superoxide production in the pathogenesis of contact dermatitis.

Superoxide generation by blood monocytes was examined in patients with irritant, nickel, and chromate hand dermatitis. Phorbol myristate acetate stimulated monocytes generated significantly more superoxide in patients with nickel dermatitis, as did patients with hand eczema generally. No significant stimulation of monocyte superoxide generation occurred with either opsonized zymosan or PMA in the presence of excess superoxide dismutase in any of the groups of hand dermatitis. The results indicate a biochemical stimulation of superoxide which may accentuate the immunological damage in the skin that is observed in nickel and perhaps chromate dermatitis.