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Testosterone exerts selective anti‐inflammatory effects on human skin mast cells in a cell subset dependent manner
Author(s) -
Guhl Sven,
Artuc Metin,
Zuberbier Torsten,
Babina Magda
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.12006
Subject(s) - foreskin , chymase , tryptase , androgen receptor , endocrinology , testosterone (patch) , medicine , mast cell , androgen , histamine , receptor , human skin , biology , hormone , immunology , cell culture , genetics , prostate cancer , cancer
Androgens are known to exert anti‐inflammatory effects but their impact on mast cells ( MC s) remains to be determined. Here, we show that MC s isolated from human foreskin samples (male) and those from breast skin (female) express the androgen receptor, albeit with a 10‐fold difference between the subsets. While fundamental MC properties (Fcε RI , c‐Kit, tryptase; histamine release upon Fcε RI cross‐linking) were unaffected or slightly reduced (chymase) by testosterone, the hormone had a more profound impact on the production of cytokines, with IL ‐6 being a target (reduction by 53%). Interestingly, this effect was limited to breast skin MC s (15 of 16 donors displayed this phenomenon), but was not reproduced by foreskin MC s. Collectively, effector functions of human skin MC s are modulated by androgens in a gene‐selective and MC subset‐specific fashion. Possibly, MC s from women are more susceptible to testosterone. We also demonstrate that MC IL ‐6 production is highly variable among individuals.