Project description:Emodin, a natural anthraquinone derivative, possesses anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties in skin diseases. However, little information is available on the efficacy of emodin in treating acne vulgaris (acne). This study aims to investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of emodin as an anti-acne agent. In vitro, SZ95 sebocytes was chose to establish an acneigenic cellular model. We found that emodin effectively inhibited proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of SZ95 sebocytes in a dose-dependent manner. To evaluate the lipid-lowering potential of emodin, we examined the levels of lipid contents and lipogenic transcription factors, and found that both lipid production and protein expression of PPARγ, LXR α/β, and SREBP-1 were decreased after treatment with emodin. Furthermore, our results revealed that emodin inhibited sebaceous lipogenesis induced by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which was accompanied by a potent inhibition of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) pathway. In detail, emodin augmented the inhibitory effect of isotretinoin and PI3K inhibitor LY294002, while attenuating the activation of IGF-1 on PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway. In addition, emodin could decrease the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, and suppress the expression of NLRP3, capase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in SZ95 sebocytes exposed to Cutibacterium acnes. Overall, our study provides preliminary evidence supporting the anti-growth, anti-lipogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of emodin, indicating the potential therapeutic application of emodin for acne treatment.
Project description:Epidermal growth factor (EGF) acts as a paracrine and autocrine mediator of cell proliferation and differentiation in various types of epithelial cells, such as sebocytes, which produce the lipid-rich sebum to moisturize the skin. However, sebum lipids via direct contact and by penetrating through the epidermis may have regulatory roles on epidermal and dermal cells as well. As EGF receptor (EGFR) is expressed throughout the proliferating and the lipid-producing layers of sebaceous glands (SGs) in healthy and acne-involved skin, we investigated the effect of EGF on SZ95 sebocytes and how it may alter the changes induced by palmitic acid (PA), a major sebum component with bioactive roles. We found that EGF is not only a potent stimulator of sebocyte proliferation, but also induces the secretion of interleukin (IL)6 and down-regulates the expression of genes involved in steroid and retinoid metabolism. Importantly, when applied in combination with PA, the PA-induced lipid accumulation was decreased and the cells secreted increased IL6 levels. Functional clustering of the differentially regulated genes in SZ95 sebocytes treated with EGF, PA or co-treated with EGF+PA further confirmed that EGF may be a potent inducer of hyperproliferative/inflammatory pathways (IL1 signaling), an effect being more pronounced in the presence of PA. However, while a group of inflammatory genes was up-regulated significantly in EGF+PA co-treated sebocytes, PA treatment in the absence of EGF, regulated genes only related to cell homeostasis. Meta-analysis of the gene expression profiles of whole acne tissue samples and EGF- and EGF+PA -treated SZ95 sebocytes showed that the EGF+PA co-activation of sebocytes may also have implications in disease. Altogether, our results reveal that PA-induced lipid accumulation and inflammation can be modulated by EGF in sebocytes, which also highlights the need for system biological approaches to better understand sebaceous (immuno)biology.
Project description:Linoleic acid (LA) is an essential omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) derived from the diet. Sebocytes, whose primary role is to moisturise the skin, process free fatty acids (FFAs) to produce the lipid-rich sebum. Importantly, like other sebum components such as palmitic acid (PA), LA and its derivative arachidonic acid (AA) are known to modulate sebocyte functions. Given the different roles of PA, LA and AA in skin biology, the aim of this study was to assess the specificity of sebocytes for LA and to dissect the different roles of LA and AA in regulating sebocyte functions. Using RNA sequencing, we confirmed that gene expression changes in LA-treated sebocytes were largely distinct from those induced by PA. LA, but not AA, regulated the expression of genes related to cholesterol biosynthesis, androgen and nuclear receptor signalling, keratinisation, lipid homeostasis and differentiation. In contrast, a set of mostly down-regulated genes involved in lipid metabolism and immune functions overlapped in LA- and AA-treated sebocytes. Lipidomic analyses revealed that the changes in the lipid profile of LA-treated sebocytes were more pronounced than those of AA-treated sebocytes, suggesting that LA may serve not only as a precursor of AA but also as a potent regulator of sebaceous lipogenesis, which may not only influence the gene expression profile but also have further specific biological relevance. In conclusion, we have shown that sebocytes are able to respond selectively to different lipid stimuli and that LA-induced effects can be both AA-dependent and independent. Our findings allow for the consideration of LA application in the therapy of sebaceous gland-associated inflammatory skin diseases such as acne, where lipid modulation and selective targeting of AA metabolism are potential treatment options.
Project description:Activation of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 1/2 and 4 are central in inducing inflammation in sebocytes by regulating the expression of protein coding mRNAs, however the microRNA (miRNA) profile in response to TLR activation and thus the possible role of miRNAs in modulating sebocyte functions has not been elucidated. In this work we identified miR-146a to have the highest induction in the TLR1/2 and 4 activated SZ95 sebocytes and found that its increased levels led to the down-regulation of IL-8 secretion, decreased the chemoattractant potential and stimulated the proliferation of sebocytes. Assessing the gene expression profile of SZ95 sebocytes treated with a miR-146a inhibitor, the induction of GNG7 was one of the highest, while when cells were treated with a miR-146a mimic, the expression of GNG7 was down-regulated. These findings correlated with our in situ hybridization results, that compared with control, miR-146a showed an increased, while GNG7 a decreased expression in sebaceous glands of acne samples. Further studies revealed, that when inhibiting the levels of GNG7 in SZ95 sebocytes, cells increased their lipid content and decreased their proliferation. Our findings suggest, that miR-146a could be a potential player in acne pathogenesis by regulating inflammation, inducing proliferation and, through the indirect down-regulation of GNG7, promoting the lipid production of sebocytes.
Project description:The oral consumption of alcohol (ethanol) has a long tradition in humans and is an integral part of many cultures. The causal relationship between ethanol consumption and numerous diseases is well known. In addition to the well-described harmful effects on the liver and pancreas, there is also evidence that ethanol abuse triggers pathological skin conditions, including acne. In the present study, we addressed this issue by investigating the effect of ethanol on the energy metabolism in human SZ95 sebocytes, with particular focus on qualitative and quantitative lipogenesis. It was found that ethanol is a strong trigger for lipogenesis, with moderate effects on cell proliferation and toxicity. We identified the non-oxidative metabolism of ethanol, which produced fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), as relevant for the lipogenic effect-the oxidative metabolism of ethanol does not contribute to lipogenesis. Correspondingly, using the Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer, we found an inhibition of the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate as a measure of mitochondrial ATP production by ethanol. The ATP production rate from glycolysis was not affected. These data corroborate that ethanol-induced lipogenesis is independent from oxygen. In sum, our results give a causal explanation for the prevalence of acne in heavy drinkers, confirming that alcoholism should be considered as a systemic disease. Moreover, the identification of key factors driving ethanol-dependent lipogenesis may also be relevant in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Project description:Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is associated with impairments in hepatic insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling through cell growth, survival, and metabolic pathways. Since not all heavy drinkers develop ALD, co-factors may be important. Epidemiologic data indicate that most heavy drinkers smoke tobacco and experimental data revealed that low-level nitrosamine exposures, including those from tobacco, can cause steatohepatitis with hepatic insulin/IGF resistance and exacerbate ALD. We hypothesize that cigarette smoke (CS) exposures also cause liver injury with impaired hepatic insulin/IGF signaling, and thereby contribute to ALD. Adult male A/J mice were exposed to air for 8 weeks (A8), CS for 4 (CS4) or 8 (CS8) weeks, or CS for 8 weeks with 2 weeks recovery (CS8+R). CS exposures caused progressive liver injury with disruption of the normal hepatic chord architecture, lobular inflammation, apoptosis or necrosis, micro-steatosis, sinusoidal dilatation, and nuclear pleomorphism. Histopathological liver injury scores increased significantly from A8 to CS4 and then further to CS8 (P<0.0001). The mean histological grade was also higher in CS8+R relative to A8 (P<0.0001) but lower than in CS4, reflecting partial resolution of injury by CS withdrawal. CS exposures impaired insulin and IGF-1 signaling through IRS-1, Akt, GSK-3β, and PRAS40. Livers from CS8+R mice had normalized or elevated levels of insulin receptor, pYpY-Insulin-R, 312S-IRS-1, 473S-Akt, S9-GSK-3β, and pT246-PRAS40 relative to A8, CS4, or CS8, reflecting partial recovery. CS-mediated liver injury and steatohepatitis with impairments in insulin/IGF signalling are reminiscent of the findings in ALD. Therefore, CS exposures (either first or second-hand) may serve as a co-factor in ALD. The persistence of several abnormalities following CS exposure cessation suggests that some aspects of CS-mediated hepatic metabolic dysfunction are not readily reversible.
Project description:Background: Acne Vulgaris is one of the commonest dermatological challenges lacking effective and well-tolerated treatment. An earlier study indicated that resveratrol (RVT) exhibits therapeutic effects in patients with acne through unknown mechanisms. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of RVT on linoleic acid (LA)-induced lipogenesis and peptidoglycan (PGN)-induced inflammation in cultured SZ95 sebocytes in vitro and to study the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Whole transcriptome analysis was performed with RNA-sequencing. Intracellular neutral lipids were detected by Nile red staining. Lipidomics was used to examine the changes of lipid profile in sebocytes. Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 mRNA and protein levels were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, respectively. Expressions of lipogenesis-related proteins inflammatory signaling pathway and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway were evaluated by Western blot. Specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knockdown sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) expression. Results: RVT suppressed lipogenesis-related pathway and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, decreased the contents of unsaturated fatty acids in SZ95 sebocytes. LA-induced lipogenesis and the expression of lipid-related proteins were all downregulated by RVT. Besides, RVT promoted SIRT1 expression as well as the deacetylation of NF-κB p65 subunit, and subsequently reduced IL-1β and IL-6 secretion under PGN induction. Furthermore, RVT-mediated sebosuppressive and anti-inflammation effects were abolished by pretreatment with AMPK inhibitor Compound C, meanwhile, SIRT1 silencing abrogated the anti-inflammatory capacity of RVT. Conclusions: RVT exhibits sebosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects in human sebocytes partially via the AMPK pathway, which may justify the role of RVT treatment in acne vulgaris.
Project description:Sebaceous glands may be involved in a pathway conceptually similar to that of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Such a pathway has been described and may occur in human skin and lately in the sebaceous glands because they express neuropeptide receptors. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the most proximal element of the HPA axis, and it acts as central coordinator for neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to stress. To further examine the probability of an HPA equivalent pathway, we investigated the expression of CRH, CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP), and CRH receptors (CRH-R) in SZ95 sebocytes in vitro and their regulation by CRH and several other hormones. CRH, CRH-BP, CRH-R1, and CRH-R2 were detectable in SZ95 sebocytes at the mRNA and protein levels: CRH-R1 was the predominant type (CRH-R1/CRH-R2 = 2). CRH was biologically active on human sebocytes: it induced biphasic increase in synthesis of sebaceous lipids with a maximum stimulation at 10(-7) M and up-regulated mRNA levels of 3 beta- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta(5-4) isomerase, although it did not affect cell viability, cell proliferation, or IL-1 beta-induced IL-8 release. CRH, dehydroepiandrosterone, and 17 beta-estradiol did not modulate CRH-R expression, whereas testosterone at 10(-7) M down-regulated CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 mRNA expression at 6 to 24 h, and growth hormone (GH) switched CRH-R1 mRNA expression to CRH-R2 at 24 h. Based on these findings, CRH may be an autocrine hormone for human sebocytes that exerts homeostatic lipogenic activity, whereas testosterone and growth hormone induce CRH negative feedback. The findings implicate CRH in the clinical development of acne, seborrhea, androgenetic alopecia, skin aging, xerosis, and other skin disorders associated with alterations in lipid formation of sebaceous origin.
Project description:Acne is the most common inflammatory skin disease. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is at the beginning of the cytokine signaling cascade and may be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. It activates redox-sensitive transcription factors, which induce IL-6 and IL-8 expression. Interestingly, L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (APS) was shown to have beneficial effects in patients with acne vulgaris. The mechanism of action of this agent remains unknown. Here, we investigated if APS attenuates IL-1β- or TNF-α-mediated IL-6 and IL-8 expression in SZ95 sebocytes, whereas TNF-α was used as control. We also explored NF-κB activation which is known to orchestrate IL-1β- and TNF-α-mediated cytokine expression in many cell types. Both IL-1β and TNF-α increased IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression in SZ95 sebocytes. However, only IL-1β induced IL-6 and IL-8 secretion. IL-1β but not TNF-α activated NF-κB canonical signaling as demonstrated by Iκ-Bα phosphorylation and degradation as well as by nuclear accumulation of NF-κB/p65. Concomitant treatment of SZ95 sebocytes with APS attenuated the effect of IL-1β and TNF-α on IL-6 and IL-8 gene expression as well as on IL-1β-mediated NF-κB signaling. In contrast, APS failed to reduce IL-1β-mediated IL-6 and IL-8 secretion, presumably by maintained IL-1β-mediated p38 activation, which is known to control IL-8 secretion. Our findings shed light into the impact of IL-1β on the inflammatory cytokine response and its molecular mechanisms in human sebocytes. Our data further suggest that the beneficial effect of APS in acne patients involves attenuation of NF-κB signaling but not reduction of IL-6 or IL-8 secretion.
Project description:The differential gene expression in SZ95 sebocytes under hypoxia include 256 genes, among them several lipid droplet-associated proteins. We detected 93 inflammatory mediators been regulated under hypoxia.