ABSTRACT
The distribution of androgen receptor (AR) in human skin was studied by an immunohistochemical method using a polyclonal antibody against the human AR. Skin samples of preputial skin and male and female nongenital skin were examined. The possible correlation of AR location to acne was studied in skin biopsies from skin areas affected or unaffected by acne. In preputial skin, AR was expressed in epidermal cells as well as in fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells of blood vessels in the dermal area. AR was found located also in the flat fibroblast-like cells of Pacinian corpuscles. In nongenital skin, AR was also expressed in the basal cells and glandular cells of sebaceous glands, in the outer root sheath of hair follicles, and in eccrine sweat glands. The presence of AR in different cell types in the skin reflects the numerous direct effects androgens may have on this target tissue. The distribution of AR was similar in male and female skin.
Subject(s)
Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , Skin/ultrastructure , Acne Vulgaris/metabolism , Adult , Animals , Antibodies/immunology , Child , Epidermal Cells , Epidermis/metabolism , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Mice , Middle Aged , Penis/metabolism , Receptors, Androgen/immunology , Skin/metabolismSubject(s)
Acne Vulgaris/complications , Muscular Diseases/complications , Osteolysis/complications , Adolescent , Chest Pain , Humans , MaleSubject(s)
Nevus, Pigmented/epidemiology , Pigmentation Disorders/epidemiology , Skin Neoplasms/epidemiology , Female , Finland/epidemiology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Melanoma/prevention & control , Nevus, Pigmented/congenital , Pigmentation Disorders/congenital , Skin Neoplasms/congenital , Skin Neoplasms/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Two young males with acne fulminans (AF) are described. In addition to severe skin lesions, they had musculoskeletal symptoms including bacteriologically negative osteolytic lesions in the clavicles. Both patients received antibiotics for suspected septic infections. The response was unsatisfactory in both patients, and combination treatment with prednisolone was started. A favourable response was observed, and a relapse occurring in the first patient was controlled by steroids alone. The possible pathomechanism of bone lesions in AF is discussed.
Subject(s)
Acne Vulgaris/complications , Osteomyelitis/complications , Prednisolone/therapeutic use , Tetracycline/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Drug Therapy, Combination , Humans , Male , Osteomyelitis/diagnostic imaging , Osteomyelitis/drug therapy , Prednisolone/administration & dosage , Radionuclide Imaging , Recurrence , Tetracycline/administration & dosageABSTRACT
We present 5 young men who developed acne fulminans. During the acute, febrile illness, all had musculoskeletal symptoms, and X-ray and bone scan examinations revealed that 4 of the patients had osteolytic bone lesions. The disease was resistant to various antibiotics and one patient needed surgical trepanation of the sternum. No evidence of sepsis or bacterial osteomyelitis was found, as all bacteriological cultures proved negative and the tissue reaction was unspecific. The dermatopathogenetic origin of bone lesions in the present patients seems evident, but speculation that the etiology depends on immune mechanisms remains open.
