title: Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of capric acid against Propionibacterium acnes: a comparative study with lauric acid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a commensal bacterium which is possibly involved in acne inflammation. The saturated fatty acid, lauric acid (C12:0) has been shown to possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties against P. acnes. Little is known concerning the potential effects of its decanoic counterpart, capric acid (C10:0).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of capric acid against P. acnes and to investigate the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antimicrobial activity of fatty acids was detected using the broth dilution method. An evaluation of P. acnes-induced ear edema in mice was conducted to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect. To elucidate the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect, human SZ95 sebocytes and monocytic THP-1 cells were treated with P. acnes alone or in the presence of a fatty acid. The mRNA levels and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by qRT-PCR and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. NF-κB activation and MAPK expression were analyzed by ELISA and Western blot, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lauric acid had stronger antimicrobial activity against P. acnes than capric acid in vitro and in vivo. However, both fatty acids attenuated P. acnes-induced ear swelling in mice along with microabscess and significantly reduced interleukin (IL)-6 and CXCL8 (also known as IL-8) production in P. acnes-stimulated SZ95 sebocytes. P. acnes-induced mRNA levels and secretion of IL-8 and TNF-α in THP-1 cells were suppressed by both fatty acids, which inhibited NF-κB activation and the phosphorylation of MAP kinases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that both capric acid and lauric acid exert bactericidal and anti-inflammatory activities against P. acnes. The anti-inflammatory effect may partially occur through the inhibition of NF-κB activation and the phosphorylation of MAP kinases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Hsien
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lu-Te
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: You-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Dessau, Germany.
authors.forename: Christos C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zouboulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: pjtsai@ntnu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Po-Jung
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003652:Decanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007850:Lauric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003652:Decanoic Acids; D007850:Lauric Acids; D016328:NF-kappa B; C030358:lauric acid; C031071:decanoic acid; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Anti-inflammation; Antibacterial; Capric acid; Lauric acid; Propionibacterium acnes