title: New insights into acne pathogenesis: propionibacterium acnes activates the inflammasome.
abstract: The precise contribution of the commensal bacterium Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in the inflammatory response associated with acne vulgaris remains controversial. In this issue Qin et al. show that P. acnes induces robust IL-1β secretion in monocytic cells by triggering the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In vivo, the encounter of P. acnes and macrophages in the peri-follicular dermis could locally result in the release of substantial amounts of IL-1β and therefore exacerbate inflammation. Such findings suggest that molecules targeting IL-1β and/or the NLRP3 inflammasome may constitute new treatment possibilities for acne vulgaris.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Contassot
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: lars.french@usz.ch.
authors.forename: Lars E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C508585:IL1B protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human