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β‐endorphin modulates lipogenesis in human sebocytes
Author(s) -
Böhm M.,
Li Z.,
Ottaviani M.,
Picardo M.,
Zouboulis Ch. C.,
Ständer S.,
Luger T. A.
Publication year - 2004
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/j.0906-6705.2004.0212cq.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , lipogenesis , sebaceous gland , receptor , hormone , biology , cell culture , human skin , chemistry , adipose tissue , genetics
Previous research in our laboratories has demonstrated that the human sebaceous gland is a target organ for several stress hormones including α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) and corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH). To further investigate the role of stress hormones in acne, we examined the expression of opioid receptors (ORs) and the biological actions of β‐endorphin (β‐ED), a natural high‐affinity ligand for the μ‐OR (MOR) and low‐affinity ligand for the Δ‐OR (DOR), in human sebocytes. RT‐PCR, Western immunoblotting and immunofluorescence studies identified the MOR but not the DOR in the human sebocyte cell line SZ95. Expression of the MOR was also confirmed in the sebaceous gland in normal human adult skin and was detectable primarily in peripherally located sebocytes. SZ95 sebocytes did not express the β‐ED precursor pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) as shown by RT‐PCR analysis and Western immunoblotting and stimulation of cells with prototypical POMC inducers such as tumour necrosis factor‐α, α‐MSH, dbcAMP, phorbol ester and CRH failed to induce POMC. On the functional level, β‐ED significantly suppressed the growth of SZ95 sebocytes induced by epidermal growth factor in chemically defined calcium‐rich medium. On the other hand, β‐ED enhanced lipogenesis as shown by Nile red staining and gas chromatography. Accordingly, β‐ED dramatically increased the amount of C16 : 0, C16 : 1, C18 : 0, C18 : 1 and C18 : 2 fatty acids in an extent similar to linoleic acid used as a positive stimulus. Our data demonstrate that human sebocytes express the MOR and respond to β‐ED with reduced in vitro proliferation and increased lipogenesis. These data establish a further link between stress and acne, the latter in which excessive sebum production is an invariable feature.