Human sebocytes express prostaglandin E2 receptors EP2 and EP4 but treatment with prostaglandin E2 does not affect testosterone production

• Published in: British journal of dermatology (1951) Vol. 161; no. 3; pp. 674 - 677
• Main Authors: Chen, W., Tsai, S.-J., Wang, C.-A., Tsai, J.-C., Zouboulis, C.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2009; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: acne; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Chorionic Gonadotropin - pharmacology; Dermatology; Dinoprostone - pharmacology; Humans; Medical sciences; prostaglandin E2; prostanoid receptors; Radioimmunoassay; Receptors, Prostaglandin E - genetics; Receptors, Prostaglandin E - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; sebaceous glands; Sebaceous Glands - cytology; Sebaceous Glands - drug effects; Sebaceous Glands - metabolism; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; testosterone; Testosterone - metabolism; Human; Testosterone; Skin disease; Treatment; Dermatology; Acne; sebaceous glands; Prostaglandin E2; Sebocyte; Sebaceous gland; prostanoid receptors
• ISSN: 0007-0963; 1365-2133
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09165.x

Summary
Background  Prostaglandins (PG) play an important role in cutaneous homeostasis. Among other skin cells, human sebocytes express cyclooxygenases and can produce PGE2. Various prostanoid receptors have been demonstrated in epidermis and hair follicles, while limited data are available regarding their expression in sebaceous glands. In addition, the interaction between PGE2 and androgenesis remains largely unclear.
Objectives  To examine the expression of PGE2 receptor (EP) and PGF2α receptor (FP) in human sebocytes and the influence of PGE2 or PGF2α on testosterone production.
Methods  A reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction study was used to detect the expression of EP subtypes and FP. A testosterone radioimmunoassay was used to measure the amount of testosterone in the supernatant of cultured SZ95 sebocytes treated with PGE2 or PGF2α alone or in the presence of various androgen precursor substrates.
Results  SZ95 sebocytes expressed mainly EP2 and EP4 but not EP3 or FP. Testosterone production was not induced by PGE2 or PGF2α, alone or in the presence of cholesterol. PGE2 did not affect androgenesis in cultured sebocytes.
Conclusions  The expression patterns of prostanoid receptors differ between sebocytes, hair follicles and epidermis. The effects of PGE2 and PGF2α on the proliferation, lipogenesis and inflammation of sebocytes appear not to be associated with androgenesis.