Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment.
Acne is a common skin disease characterized by elevated sebum production and inflammation of the sebaceous glands. We have previously shown that a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid ((-)-cannabidiol [CBD]) exerted complex anti-acne effects by normalizing 'pro-acne agents'-induced excessive sebaceous lipid production, reducing proliferation and alleviating inflammation in human SZ95 sebocytes. Therefore, in this study we aimed to explore the putative anti-acne effects of further non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids ((-)-cannabichromene [CBC], (-)-cannabidivarin [CBDV], (-)-cannabigerol [CBG], (-)-cannabigerovarin [CBGV] and (-)-Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabivarin [THCV]). Viability and proliferation of human SZ95 sebocytes were investigated by MTT and CyQUANT assays; cell death and lipid synthesis were monitored by DilC1 (5)-SYTOX Green labelling and Nile Red staining, respectively. Inflammatory responses were investigated by monitoring expressions of selected cytokines upon lipopolysaccharide treatment (RT-qPCR, ELISA). Up to 10 μm, the phytocannabinoids only negligibly altered the viability of the sebocytes, whereas high doses (≥50 μm) induced apoptosis. Interestingly, basal sebaceous lipid synthesis was differentially modulated by the substances: CBC and THCV suppressed it, and CBDV had only minor effects, whereas CBG and CBGV increased it. Importantly, CBC, CBDV and THCV significantly reduced arachidonic acid (AA)-induced 'acne-like' lipogenesis. Moreover, THCV suppressed proliferation, and all phytocannabinoids exerted remarkable anti-inflammatory actions. Our data suggest that CBG and CBGV may have potential in the treatment of dry-skin syndrome, whereas CBC, CBDV and especially THCV show promise to become highly efficient, novel anti-acne agents. Moreover, based on their remarkable anti-inflammatory actions, phytocannabinoids could be efficient, yet safe novel tools in the management of cutaneous inflammations.
DE-MTA 'Lendület' Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Attila
0000-0003-4122-5639
A
Oláh
DE-MTA 'Lendület' Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Arnold
A
Markovics
DE-MTA 'Lendület' Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Judit
J
Szabó-Papp
DE-MTA 'Lendület' Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Pálma Tímea
PT
Szabó
GW Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, UK.
Colin
C
Stott
Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Dessau, Germany.
Christos C
CC
Zouboulis
DE-MTA 'Lendület' Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.|Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Tamás
T
Bíró
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002460:Cell Line; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects
D002186:Cannabinoids
acne vulgaris; cutaneous inflammation; dry skin; phytocannabinoid