Epidermal Oxidative Stress in Vitiligo

Epidermal levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), vitamin E (Vit E), ubiquinol (CoQ₁₀H₂), and reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids (PL-PUFA), were evaluated in the affected epidermis of 15 patients with active vitiligo (AVP) and in the corresponding epidermis of 15 healthy phototype matched controls. The epidermal levels of CoQ₁₀H₂, Vit E, GSH, and CAT activity were significantly reduced in AVP and were associated with a marked increase of oxidized glutathione, whereas SODs and GSH-Px activities and ubiquinone concentration remained similar to control values. Antioxidant deficiency, in particular the decline of lipophilic antioxidants, i. e., CoQ₁₀H₂ and Vit E, accounts well for PL-PUFA reduction observed in vitiligo epidermis, mainly affecting C18: 3 n-3, C20: 3 n-6, C20: 4 n-6, and C22: 6 n-3 fatty acids and suggesting the occurrence of a lipoperoxidative process. In conclusion, both an imbalance of the intracellular redox status and a significant depletion of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants feature the epidermis of AVP, and represent a fingerprint of an abnormal oxidative stress leading to epidermal cell injury.     

Gagea tisoniana, a new species of Gagea Salisb. sect. Gagea (Liliaceae) from central Italy

Gagea tisoniana Peruzzi et al. sp. nov. is described and its taxonomic relationship is discussed. The new species, which appears to be endemic to central Italy, is close to G. pratensis (Pers.) Dumort., G. pusilla (F. W. Schmidt) Sweet, and other mainly poorly known [i.e. G. succedanea Griseb. et Schenk, G. transversalis Stev., and G. paczoskii (Zapal.) Grossh.] or as yet undescribed taxa from eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean area. The recognition of the new taxon G. tisoniana is claimed on the basis of anatomical, karyological, ecological, and phytogeographical data. Maps of the Italian distribution of G. pratensis (2 n  = 60), G. pusilla (2 n  = 24), and G. tisoniana (2 n  = 24) are presented, together with an analytical identification key. Finally, G. pratensis is recorded here for the first time in Tuscany (Monte Cetona).  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 337–347.