Serum Sphingolipidomic Analysis in Acne Vulgaris Patients.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on serum levels of different sphingomyelin (SM) and ceramide (CER) species in acne vulgaris (AV). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify circulating levels of neutral sphingomyelinase activity (N-SMase), ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), C16-C24 SMs and C16-C24 CERs in AV patients and controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum was collected from 30 AV patients and 20 age, gender-matched control subjects. Serum levels of C16-C24 SMs and C16-C24 CERs were determined by an optimized multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method using ultra fast-liquid chromatography (UFLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Serum activity of N-SMase was assayed by standard kit methods, C1P and S1P levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: A significant increase was observed in serum levels of C16 SM in patients with AV compared to controls. No significant difference was found in C18 and C24 SM levels between the two groups. Very-long-chain C24 CER was significantly decreased in AV patients compared to controls. Long chain C16-C20 CER levels showed no significant difference between AV patients and controls. A significant positive correlation was found between serum total cholesterol levels and all measured SMs and CERs in both the control and patient groups. Patients with AV had increased circulating levels of C16 SM, C1P and lower circulating levels of C24 CER compared to healthy controls, which may provide prognostic value for the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are needed to understand the role of altered sphingolipid levels in the pathophysiology of AV.

Decreased eicosapentaenoic acid levels in acne vulgaris reveals the presence of a proinflammatory state.

This study aimed to determine circulating levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and measure circulating protein levels of angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3), ANGPTL4, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in patients with acne vulgaris. Serum from 21 control subjects and 31 acne vulgaris patients were evaluated for levels of arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n- 6), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA, C20:3n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3). PUFA levels were determined by an optimized multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method using ultra fast-liquid chromatography (UFLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Lipid profile, routine biochemical and hormone parameters were assayed by standard kit methods Serum EPA levels were significantly decreased while AA/EPA and DGLA/EPA ratio were significantly increased in acne vulgaris patients compared to controls. Serum levels of AA, DGLA and DHA showed no significant difference while activity of sPLA2 and LPL were significantly increased in acne vulgaris compared to controls. Results of this study reveal the presence of a proinflammatory state in acne vulgaris as shown by significantly decreased serum EPA levels and increased activity of sPLA2, AA/EPA and DGLA/EPA ratio. Increased LPL activity in the serum of acne vulgaris patients can be protective through its anti-dyslipidemic actions. This is the first study reporting altered EPA levels and increased sPLA2 activity in acne vulgaris and supports the use of omega-3 fatty acids as adjuvant treatment for acne patients.