Severe acne can have profound psychological and physical morbidity for millions of affected patients. The goal of this proposal is to determine how isotretinoin, a potent drug for acne exerts its effects in the sebacous gland. Isotretinoin (13-c/s retinoic acid) is an oral retinoid that is the only agent effective against severe acne that targets each of the pathogenic factors of this disease. 13-c/s RA and other oral retinoids are also used in cancer chemotherapy. Isotretinoin however is a known teratogen whose use is now restricted within an FDA-mandated registry system. Lack of understanding of the mechanism of action of 13-cis RA in the sebaceous gland has hampered the progress to find safe alternatives. Our preliminary data indicate that 13-cis RA induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in sebocytes. Gene array expression analysis in sebocytes and in human skin indicates that 13-cis RA induces genes involved in the innate immune response, including lipocalin 2 that encodes a multifunctional secretory protein, neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) involved in renal epithelial morphogenesis, defense against bacterial pathogens and in apoptosis. The major goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that 13- cis RA acts by a metabolite or metabolites to activate a pattern of transcriptional activation leading to the expression of apoptotic mediators, such as NGAL, that act specifically on sebaceous glands.
Aim 1 will use our sebocyte model system to test the widely held hypothesis that 13- c/s RA, as a reservoir of potent retinoids, is superior to its individual metabolites in inducing apoptosis.
Sub aims are directed determining how 13-cis RA differs from all-trans RA and whether the apoptotic effects induced by 13-cis RA are mediated by retinoid receptors.
Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that NGAL is an important mediator of apoptosis and Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that the sebocyte-selective apoptotic response to 13- cis RA and NGAL is due to differential expression of NGAL receptor isoforms. The findings of these studies not only have the potential to advance our understanding of retinoid action in acne, but can lead to advances in the understanding of these agents in cancer biology and in innate immunity as well.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR047820-08
Application #
7628395
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MOSS-C (02))
Program Officer
Cibotti, Ricardo
Project Start
2001-12-01
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$307,562
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Dermatology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
129348186
City
Hershey
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
17033
Dispenza, Melanie C; Wolpert, Ellen B; Gilliland, Kathryn L et al. (2012) Systemic isotretinoin therapy normalizes exaggerated TLR-2-mediated innate immune responses in acne patients. J Invest Dermatol 132:2198-205
Nelson, A M; Cong, Z; Gilliland, K L et al. (2011) TRAIL contributes to the apoptotic effect of 13-cis retinoic acid in human sebaceous gland cells. Br J Dermatol 165:526-33
Lumsden, K R; Nelson, A M; Dispenza, M C et al. (2011) Isotretinoin increases skin-surface levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in patients treated for severe acne. Br J Dermatol 165:302-10
Nelson, Amanda M; Zhao, Wei; Gilliland, Kathryn L et al. (2009) Isotretinoin temporally regulates distinct sets of genes in patient skin. J Invest Dermatol 129:1038-42
Smith, Terry M; Gilliland, Kathryn; Clawson, Gary A et al. (2008) IGF-1 induces SREBP-1 expression and lipogenesis in SEB-1 sebocytes via activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway. J Invest Dermatol 128:1286-93
Nelson, Amanda M; Zhao, Wei; Gilliland, Kathryn L et al. (2008) Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin mediates 13-cis retinoic acid-induced apoptosis of human sebaceous gland cells. J Clin Invest 118:1468-78
Smith, Terry M; Cong, Zhaoyuan; Gilliland, Kathryn L et al. (2006) Insulin-like growth factor-1 induces lipid production in human SEB-1 sebocytes via sterol response element-binding protein-1. J Invest Dermatol 126:1226-32
Trivedi, Nishit R; Gilliland, Kathryn L; Zhao, Wei et al. (2006) Gene array expression profiling in acne lesions reveals marked upregulation of genes involved in inflammation and matrix remodeling. J Invest Dermatol 126:1071-9
Trivedi, Nishit R; Cong, Zhaoyuan; Nelson, Amanda M et al. (2006) Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors increase human sebum production. J Invest Dermatol 126:2002-9
Nelson, Amanda M; Gilliland, Kathryn L; Cong, Zhaoyuan et al. (2006) 13-cis Retinoic acid induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human SEB-1 sebocytes. J Invest Dermatol 126:2178-89