Dóra Kovács

Sebocytes differentially express and secrete adipokines.

In addition to producing sebum, sebocytes link lipid metabolism with inflammation at a cellular level and hence, greatly resemble adipocytes. However, so far no analysis was performed to identify and characterize the adipocyte‐associated inflammatory proteins, the members of the adipokine family in sebocytes. Therefore, we determined the expression profile of adipokines [adiponectin, interleukin (IL) 6, resistin, leptin, serpin E1, visfatin, apelin, chemerin, retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1)] in sebaceous glands of healthy and various disease‐affected (acne, rosacea, melanoma and psoriasis) skin samples. Sebaceous glands in all examined samples expressed adiponectin, IL6, resistin, leptin, serpin E1 and visfatin, but not apelin, chemerin, RBP4 and MCP1. Confirming the presence of the detected adipokines in the human SZ95 sebaceous gland cell line we further characterized their expression and secretion patterns under different stimuli mimicking bacterial invasion [by using Toll‐like receptor (TLR)2 and 4 activators], or by 13‐cis retinoic acid (13CRA; also known as isotretinoin), a key anti‐acne agent. With the exception of resistin, the expression of all of the detected adipokines (adiponectin, IL6, leptin, serpin E1 and visfatin) could be further regulated at the level of gene expression, showing a close correlation with the secreted protein levels. Besides providing further evidence on similarities between adipocytes and sebocytes, our results strongly suggest that sebocytes are not simply targets of inflammation but may exhibit initiatory and modulatory roles in the inflammatory processes of the skin through the expression and secretion of adipokines.

Leptin promotes a proinflammatory lipid profile and induces inflammatory pathways in human SZ95 sebocytes

Leptin, the adipocyte‐secreted hormone that regulates weight, is known to link lipid metabolism with inflammation in various cell types. However, its role in human sebocytes has not yet been investigated.

Sebum lipids influence macrophage polarization and activation

As lipids are known to regulate macrophage functions, it is reasonable to suppose that a sebocyte–macrophage axis mediated by sebum lipids may exist.

Polymorphism of clotting factors in Hungarian patients with Raynaud's phenomenon

Patients with primary Raynauds phenomenon may have a genetically determined risk for clotting factors that predispose them to aberrant microvascular thrombosis. We investigated the prevalence of factor V substitution of G to A at position 1691 (FVLeiden), prothrombin G20210A, and methyltetrahydrofolate reductase C677T mutations in these patients. Two hundred (158 women, 42 men, mean age of 42.4 ± 13.7 years) consecutive patients with primary Raynauds phenomenon and 200 age-sex-matched healthy controls of Hungarian origin were included in a case–control study. The prevalence of methyltetrahydrofolate reductase C677T homozygous among patients was significantly lower than in the control group (odds ratio 0.4, 95% confidence interval 0.2–0.9, P < 0.05). The prevalence of other thrombosis-associated alleles did not differ between patients with primary Raynauds phenomenon and control subjects. FVLeiden, prothrombin G20210A, and polymorphism, prothrombin G20210A mutations have no apparent effect on the etiology of primary Raynauds phenomenon.