Leukotriene B4‐like material in scale of psoriatic skin lesions

Abstract

1 Acidic lipid extracts of scale from the lesions of the skin disease, psoriasis, were purified by straight phase high performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c). Assay of fractions by an agarose microdroplet chemokinesis method showed the presence of biologically active material that co-eluted with standard leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄). 2 LTB₄-like chemokinetic activity was also detected in fractions collected on reversed phase h.p.l.c. of psoriatic scale extracts that were initially purified by straight phase h.p.l.c. 3 No LTB₄-like activity was detected after similar purification of scale obtained by abrasion of large areas of normal skin. 4 The LTB₄-like material found in extracts of psoriatic scale may play a role in the pathogenesis of the neutrophil infiltrate which characterizes psoriasis.