Acne inversa: evaluating antimicrobial peptides and proteins.
Bechara. Falk G FG; Sand. Michael M; Skrygan. Marina M; Kreuter. Alexander A; Altmeyer. Peter P; Gambichler. Thilo T
Key Findings
- LL-37 mRNA levels are significantly increased in acne inversa lesions versus non‑lesional skin.
- Other antimicrobial peptides (hBD‑2, RNase 7) and inflammatory cytokines (IL‑1β, IL‑6, IL‑8, TNF‑α) are also altered in the lesions.
- Positive correlations exist between hBD‑2 and LL‑37 expression, indicating coordinated up‑regulation of antimicrobial defenses.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the main takeaway is that LL-37 is naturally up‑regulated in this skin condition, highlighting its role in innate immunity rather than providing a new supplement or dosage guideline. The findings suggest that simply boosting LL-37 may not be beneficial for skin health and that any intervention would need to consider the complex inflammatory environment.
Summary
The study looked at skin samples from people with hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa) and found that the antimicrobial peptide LL-37, along with other immune molecules, is higher in the inflamed lesions compared to healthy skin. This suggests the body's innate immune system, including LL-37, plays a role in the disease, but the research does not test LL-37 as a treatment.
Abstract
Acne inversa is a chronic, suppurative relapsing inflammatory skin disease that primarily affects the axillae, perineum and inframammary regions. Evidence suggests that the innate immune system is involved in the pathogenesis of acne inversa. To investigate the role of the innate immune system in acne inversa. Skin biopsies were obtained from inflammatory skin lesions (n=17) and from non-lesional skin (intraindividual control, n=17) of patients with acne inversa. Additional skin lesions were taken from patients with chronic venous leg ulcers (interindividual control, n=5). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the mRNA levels of antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs), including human β-defensin (hBD)-1, hBD-2 and hBD-3, LL-37 (cathelicidin) and Ribonuclease 7 (RNase 7). mRNA levels were also determined for inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10. The mRNA levels of hBD-2, LL-37, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and MMP1 were significantly higher in acne inversa lesions compared to non-lesional skin (p<0.05). A significant positive correlation expression was observed between hBD-2 mRNA expression and LL-37 (ρ=0.53, p=0.03), and between hBD-2 and RNAse 7 (ρ=0.68, p=0.006). When compared to the chronic venous leg ulcer lesions, acne inversa lesions showed a significantly higher expression of RNase 7 mRNA, while IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and MMP1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the chronic venous leg ulcer lesions (p<0.05). The AMP, cytokine milieu and tissue proteases in acne inversa lesions differ significantly from non-lesional skin and chronic venous leg ulcers. The positively correlating up-regulation of AMPs in acne inversa indicates an important role of the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of this disorder.
Study Information
pubmed
2012
2012-11-08T00:00:00.000Z
10.5021/ad.2012.24.4.393
71
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