Plasma dermcidin levels in acne patients, and the effect of isotretinoin treatment on dermcidin levels

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Dermcidin (DCD) is an antimicrobial peptide released from eccrine sweat glands and sebaceous glands. Studies investigating the role of DCD expression in acne development are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between DCD expression and acne vulgaris and the effect of oral isotretinoin treatment on DCD levels. Two groups (one patient group and one control group) were included in the study. The patient group consisted of 30 patients with acne vulgaris who were given oral isotretinoin treatment for 6 months until the cumulative dose was attained. Plasma DCD levels were investigated before and 6 months after treatment. The control group comprised 30 volunteer individuals without acne vulgaris or any inflammatory dermatosis. Of the patients, 24 (80%) had Grade 3, 3 (10%) had Grade 1, and 3 (10%) had Grade 4 acne vulgaris, as determined according to the Pillsbury scoring method. The DCD levels in the control group were significantly higher than those in pretreatment patients (39.53 ± 20.2 vs. 28.60 ± 20.12, p = .004). Additionally, pretreatment DCD levels were significantly increased after 6 months of isotretinoin treatment in the patient group (28.60 ± 20.12 vs. 35.07 ± 24.02, p = .012). The mean pretreatment global acne grading system score of 20.86 ± 4.43 was decreased to 5.17 ± 1.91 in patients after treatment (p < .001). This study indicated that DCD plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acne. It demonstrates anti‐inflammatory properties in acne vulgaris. Moreover, it was shown that isotretinoin treatment may improve acne vulgaris by increasing DCD levels.

Depression, isotretinoin, and folic acid: A practical review

“…Dermcidin is a protective antimicrobial peptide, which has been thought to have an anti‐inflammatory activity in the pathogenesis of acne by decreasing the P. acnes population and the level of inflammation within the pilosebaceous unit. Plasma dermcidin levels were found to be decreased in acne patients compared to those in healthy controls, and dermcidin levels were found to be increased after 6 months of oral ISO treatment (0.5–0.7 mg/kg/day) in acne patients in a recent study (Alatas, Kara Polat, Kalaycı, Dogan, & Akın, ).…”

A Positive Dermcidin Expression Is an Unfavorable Prognostic Marker for Extramammary Paget’s Disease

“…Dermcidin has also been reported as a biomarker in various diseases in addition to malignant tumors. Dermcidin has been identified as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) [29], asthma [30], acne vulgaris [31,32], severe obstructive sleep apnea [33], and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy [34]. For example, an abundance of dermcidin was identified in exhaled breath condensate in asthma patients [30].…”

Putative Genes and Pathways Involved in the Acne Treatment of Isotretinoin via Microarray Data Analyses

“…Because of the adverse effects, especially teratogenicity of isotretinoin, multiple studies have been conducted to explore the therapeutical mechanism of isotretinoin and thus develop retinoid-like alternatives without teratogenicity in their side effects' profile. Dermcidin is an antimicrobial peptide and manifests as anti-inflammatory properties in acne vulgaris; isotretinoin can ameliorate acne vulgaris via enhancing Dermcidin level [ 12 ]. Isotretinoin increases transcription factor p53 expression, which induces expression of sestrin 1, sestrin 2, FoxO1, FoxO3, p21, and TRAIL, and suppresses levels of androgen receptor and IGF-1 receptor [ 13 ].…”