Pro-inflammatory levels of interleukin-1 alpha-like bioactivity are present in the majority of open comedones in acne vulgaris.
The factors that initiate the inflammatory response in acne are not known. The presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines in acne comedones was therefore investigated. One hundred eight open comedones were collected from 18 untreated acne patients (10 male, 8 female). Each comedone was homogenized and centrifuged, and the supernatant was analyzed for bioactive and immunochemically detectable IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF alpha. Viable counts of propionibacteria, staphylococci, and Malassezia spp. were determined in the comedone pellet. Bioactive IL-1 alpha-like material was demonstrated in 76% of open comedones (range of 23-4765 pg IL-1 alpha-like bioactivity/mg of comedone material). In 58% of comedones, levels exceeded 100 pg/mg. There was no correlation between IL-1 alpha-like bioactivity and IL-1 alpha determined immunochemically. Bioactive IL-1 beta was not detected in any comedones. Twenty-four percent contained low levels of immunochemical IL-1 beta (range 12-103 pg IL-1 beta/mg comedone material). Bioactive TNF alpha was detected in three comedones with a further five comedones containing immunochemical TNF alpha (range of 61-820 pg TNF alpha/mg comedone material). The majority of open comedones (97%) contained microorganisms. There was, however, no significant correlation (Spearman's rank) between levels of any cytokine, in particular IL-1 alpha-like bioactivity, and numbers of microorganisms. Thus, bioactive IL-1 alpha-like material in the majority of open comedones may be concerned in the initiation of inflammation in acne following spongiosis or rupture of the pilosebaceous follicle wall.
Ingham
E
E
Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Leeds, U.K.
Eady
E A
EA
Goodwin
C E
CE
Cove
J H
JH
Cunliffe
W J
WJ
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha