Use of lipidomics to investigate sebum dysfunction in juvenile acne

Abstract

inflammatory responses (1-3). Quantitative and qualitative modifications of sebaceous lipids likely trigger inflammatory responses causative of acne lesions commonly called comedones (4-7). Juvenile acne, which affects approximately 80% of adolescents in industrialized countries, develops during puberty when androgens and other endocrine factors stimulate sebum secretion, thereby generating conditions for development of lesions (8). Studies aimed at the identification of lipid alterations involved in acne pathogenesis date back to the early 70s to late 80s (9-14); however, the complexity of the sebum composition has represented a major limitation to understanding lipid modifications involved with acne. The recent availability of methods with improved analytical performance and high-throughput opens new perspectives to understanding sebum alterations in acne.GC-MS has been widely employed to investigate sebum lipids. GC-MS conditions are suitable for analysis of FFAs, squalene, and cholesterol and also allow for detection of wax esters and sterol oxidation products (15). The latest advances in GC-MS analysis have provided structural information and detailed fingerprints of intact sebaceous lipids (16,17). Coupling the separation power of HPLC with high-resolution MS has also proved to meet the difficult task of analyzing intact structures of sebaceous mixture components (18). On the other hand, no separative spectroscopic methods based on NMR have been used for the quantitative analysis of sebum lipids independent of their fatty acid composition (19). Acne is a complex and multifactorial skin disorder targeting the pilosebaceous unit, wherein the sebaceous gland produces and secretes a lipid-rich mixture known as sebum. Increased sebogenesis is pivotal in the pathogenesis of acne and predisposes skin to deregulated Abstract

Lipidomic analysis of facial skin surface lipids reveals an altered lipid profile in infant acne

“…However, the relative average diglyceride content in patients with IA was significantly lower than that in patients without IA. Prior research has shown that triglyceride levels are closely related to the occurrence of acne . Our results are consistent with this work and indicate that triglyceride levels may be associated with the occurrence of IA.…”

Acne: morphologic and vascular study of lesions and surrounding skin by means of optical coherence tomography

“…There are several techniques available for acne examination, comprising new photographic techniques and biometric analysis of sebum . Histopathology represents an optimal method for microscopic morphology lesion evaluation, but is limited due to its invasiveness, cosmetic consequences, and inability to apply to lesion follow‐up.…”

Homeostasis of the sebaceous gland and mechanisms of acne pathogenesis

“…While lesion‐associated SGs are atrophic, sebum production in acne is abnormally high, and the composition of acne sebum is distinct from that in healthy skin . Moreover, certain sebaceous lipids have comedogenic properties.…”