title: Skin expression of mammalian target of rapamycin and forkhead box transcription factor O1, and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 in patients with acne vulgaris and their relationship with diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disorder of the pilosebaceous units. Several studies have reported that insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, forkhead box transcription factor (Fox)O1 and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) interactions may be the key to understanding the links between genetic and environmental factors in acne vulgaris.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immunohistochemical detection of mTOR and FoxO1 in the skin, and the serum level of IGF-1 in patients with acne vulgaris.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out on 60 participants, including 40 patients with acne and 20 controls. A diet questionnaire was administered to the patients and controls. Serum levels of IGF-1 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and skin biopsies were taken from lesions on the backs of the patients and controls. FoxO1 and mTOR expression was detected using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher serum IGF-1 level was found in the patients with acne than in the controls. The cytoplasmic expression of FoxO1 was found to be significantly greater in the acne group, whereas in the control subjects this expression was likely to be nuclear. Both the cytoplasmic expression and the nuclear expression of mTOR were significantly more intense in the patients with acne than in the controls. Excess consumption of a high-glycaemic-load diet was significantly associated with higher serum levels of IGF-1 and cytoplasmic expression of FoxO1 and mTOR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that FoxO1, mTOR, serum IGF-1 and a high-glycaemic-load diet may play a role in acne pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Agamia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sorour
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Younan
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases