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Expression of sex‐determining genes in human sebaceous glands and their possible role in the pathogenesis of acne
Author(s) -
Chen W,
Yang CC,
Liao CY,
Hung CL,
Tsai SJ,
Chen KF,
Sheu HM,
Zouboulis CC
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01663.x
Subject(s) - sebaceous gland , endocrinology , medicine , pathogenesis , in situ hybridization , acne , testis determining factor , dihydrotestosterone , basal (medicine) , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , biology , blot , gene expression , gene , hormone , androgen , genetics , y chromosome , insulin
Background The human skin, especially the sebaceous gland, is a steroidogenic organ similar to the gonads and adrenal cortex, possessing all the enzymes required for steroid sex‐hormone synthesis and metabolism. Factors regulating cutaneous steroidogenesis associated with disease status remain largely unknown. Objective We hypothesized that transcription factors involved in sex formation and regulation of steroidogenesis in the classical steroidogenic organs are also expressed in the sebaceous glands. Their possible role in the pathogenesis of acne were investigated. Methods We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), in situ hybridization and Western blotting to analyse the expression of SF‐1 , WT‐1 , SRY , SOX‐9 and DAX‐1 mRNAs and their proteins in cultured human sebocytes and the facial skin of acne patients. Results The in situ hybridization study showed SOX‐9 mRNA mainly localized in basal keratinocytes, the basal layer of the sebaceous glands and eccrine glands. Immortalized human sebaceous gland cells (SZ95) expressed mRNA for SOX‐9 , WT‐1 and DAX‐1 but not for SF‐1 or SRY . The expression of DAX‐1 protein was slightly inhibited by 10 −6 m oestradiol (E2) at 6 h but enhanced by 10 −6 m dihydrotestosterone (DHT) at 48 h. The facial expression of SOX‐9 seemed to be higher in the acne‐prone male patients, while DAX‐1 was stronger in subjects without acne, although both were statistically insignificant. Conclusion Our findings confirm the expression of some sex‐determining genes in human sebaceous glands. Further studies on a larger patient population including the normal controls are needed to elucidate the functional significance of these transcription factors in the pathogenesis of acne.