Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & PhotomedicineVolume 38, Issue 6 p. 611-613 LETTER Endothelins and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone are increased in plasma of patients treated with UVA1 and psoralen plus UVA M. Badawy Abdel-Naser, M. Badawy Abdel-Naser orcid.org/0000-0002-6406-6223 Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorHolger Seltmann, Holger Seltmann Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorAndreas Altenburg, Andreas Altenburg Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorChristos C. Zouboulis, Corresponding Author Christos C. Zouboulis [email protected] Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, Germany Correspondence Christos C. Zouboulis, Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Auenweg 38, 06847 Dessau, Germany. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author M. Badawy Abdel-Naser, M. Badawy Abdel-Naser orcid.org/0000-0002-6406-6223 Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorHolger Seltmann, Holger Seltmann Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorAndreas Altenburg, Andreas Altenburg Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorChristos C. Zouboulis, Corresponding Author Christos C. Zouboulis [email protected] Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, Germany Correspondence Christos C. Zouboulis, Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Auenweg 38, 06847 Dessau, Germany. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author First published: 30 March 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12789Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. REFERENCES 1Stierner U, Rosdahl I, Augustsson A, Kagedal B. UVB irradiation induces melanocyte increase in both exposed and shielded skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1989; 92: 561- 564. 2Abdel-Naser MB, Lyakh O, Hippe S, Zouboulis CC. Gigantisches (monströses) Melanom der Haut. Akt Dermatol. 2015; 41: 249- 254. 3Stern RS, Bagheri S, Nichols K. The persistent risk of genital tumors among men treated with psoralen plus ultraviolet a (PUVA) for psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002; 47: 33- 39. 4Abdel-Naser MB, Wollina U, El-Okby M, El-Shiemy S. Psoralen plus ultraviolet a irradiation-induced lentigines arising in vitiligo: involvement of vitiliginous and normal appearing skin. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2004; 29: 380- 382. 5Abdel-Naser MB, El-Khateeb EA, Sallam TH, Habib MA. Endothelin-1 is significantly elevated in plasma of patients with vitiligo treated with psoralen plus ultraviolet a. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2006; 31: 571- 575. 6Wu C-S, Lan C-CE, Wang L-F, Chen GS, Wu CS, Yu HS. Effects of psoralen plus ultraviolet a irradiation on cultured epidermal cells in vitro and patients with vitiligo in vivo. Br J Dermatol. 2007; 156: 122- 129. 7Pozo-Roman T, Gonzalez-Lopez A, Velasco-Vaquero ME, Nufiez-Cabezon M. Psoralen cream plus ultraviolet a photochemotherapy (PUVA cream): our experience. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2006; 20: 136- 142. 8Nakahara T, Kido-Nakahara M, Ulzii D, et al. Topical application of endothelin receptor a antagonist attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriasiform skin inflammation. Sci Rep. 2020; 10: 9510. Volume38, Issue6November 2022Pages 611-613 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Calcium and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) are promoters of epithelial cell functions; however their effects on sebaceous glands are unknown. In this study, morphology, ultrastructure, cell numbers, lipid synthesis and apoptosis of SZ95 sebocytes were assessed in vitro under different concentrations of extracellular calcium with or without 1,25(OH)2D3. Moreover, serum calcium and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were assessed in acne and non-acne patients (controls). Under conditions of low extracellular calcium, lipogenesis and cell detachment were observed. Increasing extracellular calcium enhanced sebocyte numbers, induced epithelial morphology and reduced lipogenesis. Moreover, a reduction in extracellular calcium reduced E-cadherin and enhanced caspase 3/7 activity (apoptosis), whereas calcium chelation by EGTA (ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) resulted in enhanced lipogenesis. 1,25(OH)2D3 decreased sebaceous lipogenesis, but also induced signs of autophagy. In the clinical study, patients and controls exhibited normal serum calcium levels. Younger acne patients presented lower 1,25(OH)2D3 levels than did older ones. In conclusion, extracellular calcium and 1,25(OH)2D3 regulate sebocyte morphology, increase cell numbers, decrease sebaceous lipogenesis and induce cell autophagy in vitro. The increased ionized calcium and the reduced 1,25(OH)2D3 levels detected in the serum of younger patients with acne may contribute respectively to increased sebaceous gland volume and enhanced lipogenesis.

Calcium (Ca) and vitamin D3 (VitD) activity on the sebaceous gland is not yet elucidated. The in vitro part of the study evaluated extracellular Ca (eCa) and VitD effects on human sebocytes. The clinical part measured Ca and VitD levels in acne patients. In vitro morphology/ultrastructure, proliferation, lipogenesis and apoptosis of SZ95 sebocytes were assessed under eCa (0.05-1.4mM) with/without VitD (10-9,10-7M) at 24 and 72h. Serum Ca and VitD levels were measured in 104 acne patients (47f/57m; 53%<25y). SZ95 sebocytes maintained at low eCa (0.05mM) exhibited rounded morphology, formed few loose colonies and tended to detach. Numerous mitochondria, highly developed Golgi complex and several small-large lipid droplets indicated active metabolism and lipogenesis. In contrast, SZ95 sebocytes maintained at high extracellular Ca (1.4mM) were polygonal, readily expanded and formed large compact firmly adherent colonies, whereas lipid droplets were barely detected. Increasing eCa levels significantly enhanced SZ95 sebocyte numbers and reduced lipogenesis. Reducing eCa enhanced SZ95 sebocyte caspase 3/7 activity and Ca chelation by EGTA resulted in enhanced lipogenesis. VitD decreased sebaceous lipogenesis as shown by functional and ultrastructure studies. The latter also detected signs of autophagy in VitD-treated sebocytes. All patients tested exhibited serum Ca levels inside the normal limits. In contrast, 81% patients presented at least VitD insufficiency, whereas 47% patients were even deficient. More young acne patients presented VitD deficiency (60%) in comparison to older ones (33%, Yates‵p=0.01). In conclusion, eCa and VitD3 regulate sebocyte morphology and increase cell growth but decrease sebaceous lipogenesis and induce cell autophagy in vitro. The majority of acne patients presented VitD insufficiency and high rates of deficiency, especially the younger ones.

It is unclear whether bacterial colonization in hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) comprises a primary cause, triggering factor or secondary phenomenon of the disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, the connection between certain bacterial species, the disease severity and its localization is unknown. Bacterial species were isolated from HS lesions to reveal a potential correlation with localization and disease severity. Ninety swab tests were prospectively obtained from 90 HS lesions of 50 consecutive patients. The material was cultured under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The identified species were statistically correlated with Hurley stage and localization of the lesions. The most prevalent isolates were reported. Hurley stage significantly correlated with disease localization. Particular bacterial species were associated with "extended" disease and Hurley III stage with the detection of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and with a higher number of species. The presence of bacterial species is dependent on the local milieu, which correlates with the localization of the disease, its clinical manifestations and its extension.

The sebaceous gland displays key functions of the human skin, such as hormone synthesis insitu, antimicrobial activity and participation to inflammatory responses. Consequently, there is an emerging need of advanced invitro models to study complex interactions between the sebaceous gland and the other skin compartments. Despite the evolution of both full-skin organ culture and reconstructed three-dimensional skin models, no satisfactory solutions have been provided for the integration of sebaceous glands and/or sebaceous gland cells in those models, probably due to their problematic maintenance both invitro and exvivo. We have developed a coculture model of explant skin in direct contact with immortalized SZ95 sebocytes, which resulted in overall improved structural integrity of the epidermis, higher percentage of proliferating basal epidermal cells and reduced apoptosis of differentiating keratinocytes after 6days, as detected by Ki67 and TUNEL staining, respectively. Furthermore SZ95 sebocytes exhibited morphological and biochemical signs of normal differentiation and lipid accumulation, while interleukin-6 expression in the supernatant of the cocultures was decreased in comparison with the control. The data provide evidence of a beneficial interaction between sebocytes and skin explants and provide the rationale for their integration in future three-dimensional skin models.