Fibroblasts may pave new ways of treating acne, researchers observe

21 Feb 2022 --- Fibroblasts cells in the skin create an antibacterial peptide called cathelicidin, which is essential in the prevention of acne. The fibroblasts change into fat cells during a reactive adipogenesis process to combat infection within a hair follicle.

This is according to research from the University of California (UC) San Diego, which found cathelicidin is generated to aid in the fight against infection by inhibiting acne-causing bacteria.

“This research could assist in identifying new treatment options that specifically target the fibroblast’s ability to produce cathelicidin,” says Alan O’Neill, study author and project scientist at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

“Thus creating a therapeutic for acne that would be more selective with potentially less harmful side effects.”

A tailored approach to treating acne
Echoing the potential of the research in treating acne, Richard Gallo, professor of dermatology and chair of the Department of Dermatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, says: “These findings may transform the way we treat acne.”The discovery of cathelicidin’s role in acne was unexpected, researchers say.

“Previously, it was thought that hair follicles were most important for acne to develop. In this study, we looked at the cells outside of the hair follicle and found they had a major effect on controlling bacteria and the development of acne.”

Retinoids are a class of chemicals derived from vitamin A that have been shown to improve skin health. They are currently used to control the production of lipids in skin cells.

Teratogenic effects, which cause fetal abnormalities in pregnant women, are one of retinoid medications’ most serious side effects. This restricts the use of these medications to only the most serious of cases. The researchers hope that their findings will help them build a more tailored treatment for acne.

Analyzing cathelicidin and acne biology
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, acne is one of the most common and least researched skin condition in the US, impacting up to 50 million people each year.

The researchers conducted a study by taking skin biopsies from acne patients treated with retinoids.To back up their findings, researchers analyzed skin lesions on mice injected with the acne-causing bacteria and found similar treatment responses.

The results displayed that medicine-use increased cathelicidin expression after treatment, indicating the discovery of a new, previously unknown mechanism for why retinoids help treat acne.

“We began our research wanting to understand the biology of acne and specifically looked at the role of fibroblasts, which typically provide structural support in the deeper layers of the skin,” O’Neill explains.

“What we uncovered instead was that these cells were activated to produce large amounts of an important antimicrobial, cathelicidin, in response to acne-causing bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes.”

“Cathelicidin being so highly expressed in acne biopsy tissue was an interesting finding to us,” says Gallo. “Knowing this will be helpful in developing a more targeted therapy to treat acne.”

Previous moves for acne treatment
Previously, clinicians found they may soon be able to identify individuals at a higher risk of getting severe acne due to new acne genetic research that identified 29 areas of the genome that influence acne.

Meanwhile, University of Antwerp researchers unveiled probiotic Lactobacilli strains that can reduce acne by altering the skin’s microbiome.

Edited by Nicole Kerr

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