Sebum is a complex lipid mixture that is synthesized in sebaceous glands and excreted on the skin surface. The purpose of this study was the comprehensive detection of the intact lipids that compose ...sebum. These lipids exist as a broad range of chemical structures and concentrations. Sebum was collected with SebuTapeTM from the foreheads of healthy donors, and then separated by HPLC on a C8 stationary phase with sub 2 µm particle size. This HPLC method provided high resolution and excellent reproducibility of retention times (RT). Compound mining was performed with time of flight (TOF) and triple quadrupole (QqQ) mass spectrometers (MS), which allowed for the classification of lipids according to their elemental composition, degree of unsaturation, and MS/MS fragmentation. The combination of the two MS systems detected 95 and 29 families of triacylglycerols (TAG) and diacylglycerols (DAG), respectively. Assignment was carried out regardless of positional isomerism. Among the wax esters (WE), 28 species were found to contain the 16:1 fatty acyl moiety. This method was suitable for the simultaneous detection of squalene and its oxygenated derivative. A total of 9 cholesterol esters (CE) were identified and more than 48 free fatty acids (FFA) were detected in normal sebum. The relative abundance of each individual lipid within its own chemical class was determined for 12 healthy donors. In summary, this method provided the first characterization of the features and distribution of intact components of the sebum lipidome.
Acne is a multifactorial skin disorder frequently observed during adolescence with different grades of severity. Multiple factors centering on sebum secretion are implicated in acne pathogenesis. ...Despite the recognized role of sebum, its compositional complexity and limited analytical approaches have hampered investigation of alterations specifically associated with acne. To examine the profiles of lipid distribution in acne sebum, 61 adolescents (29 males and 32 females) were enrolled in this study. Seventeen subjects presented no apparent clinical signs of acne. The 44 affected individuals were clinically classified as mild (13 individuals), moderate (19 individuals), and severe (12 individuals) acne. Sebum was sampled from the forehead with SebutapeTM adhesive patches. Profiles of neutral lipids were acquired with rapid-resolution reversed-phase/HPLC-TOF/MS in positive ion mode. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses led to the identification of lipid species with significantly different levels between healthy and acne sebum. The majority of differentiating lipid species were diacylglycerols (DGs), followed by fatty acyls, sterols, and prenols. Overall, the data indicated an association between the clinical grading of acne and sebaceous lipid fingerprints and highlighted DGs as more abundant in sebum from adolescents affected with acne.
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most frequent autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease provoked by autoantibodies directed against two hemidesmosomal proteins: BP180 and BP230. Its pathogenesis ...depends on the interaction between predisposing factors, such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, comorbidities, aging, and trigger factors. Several trigger factors, such as drugs, thermal or electrical burns, surgical procedures, trauma, ultraviolet irradiation, radiotherapy, chemical preparations, transplants, and infections may induce or exacerbate BP disease. Identification of predisposing and trigger factors can increase the understanding of BP pathogenesis. Furthermore, an accurate anamnesis focused on the recognition of a possible trigger factor can improve prognosis by promptly removing it.
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune intraepithelial bullous disease. Associations with the class II human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and pemphigus vulgaris have been described. Furthermore, ...an association between the single nucleotide polymorphism of the ST18 gene and pemphigus vulgaris has been reported. We report two pairs of siblings from two unrelated Italian families affected by pemphigus vulgaris, characterizing their genetic and immunological profile. In order to assess the genetic background, HLA‐DQA1, HLA‐DQB1, HLA‐DRB1 and a relevant ST18 polymorphism were investigated. As for the immunological profiles, anti‐desmoglein antibodies were analyzed. In family A, the two pemphigus vulgaris patients had the same HLA genetic profile: HLA‐DQA1 *01:04/*03:01, HLA‐DQB1 *03:02/*05:03 and HLA‐DRB1 *04:02/*14:01. The male patient was heterozygous for the ST18 mutation while the female patient had a wild genotype. In family B, the two pemphigus vulgaris patients were both wild type for the ST18 mutation and showed the same HLA genotype: HLA‐DQA1 *03:01/*05:08, HLA‐DQB1 *03:01/*03:03 and HLA‐DRB1 *04:02/*11:01. Our data show a relevant relationship between the HLA profile and pemphigus vulgaris in our Italian families. In family A, all six alleles are frequently associated with pemphigus vulgaris and were expressed only in the two pemphigus patients; and in family B, two of the six alleles are frequently associated with pemphigus vulgaris. No relevant relationship was found between ST18 polymorphism and pemphigus disease.
COVID-19 is characterized by a severe pulmonary disease due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 infection. For clinicians involved in the management of patients with chronic autoimmune ...diseases the risk linked to the conditions itself and to drug-induced immunosuppression during the COVID-19 pandemic is a major topic. Pemphigus is a rare autoimmune blistering disease (AIBD) of the skin and mucous membranes caused by autoantibodies to desmosomal components, desmoglein 1 and 3. Among immunosuppressant therapies, rituximab (RTX) is considered a highly effective treatment with a favorable safety profile, but it induces a prolonged B-cell depletion that can lead to higher susceptibility to infections. For this reason, concerns about its use during the pandemic have been raised. We describe a case of a pemphigus patient in which RTX-induced B cell depletion led to the severe inflammatory phase, whereas corticosteroid treatment allowed a favorable outcome.
Autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBDs) are a heterogeneous group of life-threatening disorders associated with subepidermal or intraepidermal blistering. Skin barrier alterations and prolonged ...immunosuppressive treatments increase the risk of infections in patients with AIBDs, who are considered fragile. COVID-19 pandemic had a heavy impact on these patients. Although advances have been made in terms of prevention and treatment of COVID-19, this topic remains significant as the pandemic and its waves could last several years and, so far, a relevant proportion of the population worldwide is not vaccinated. This review is a 2022 update that summarizes and discusses the pandemic's burden on AIBD patients mainly considering relevant studies in terms of: (i) sample dimension; (ii) quality of control populations; (iii) possible standardization by age, gender and country. The findings show that: (i) the risk of COVID-19 infection and its severe course were comparable in AIBD patients and in the general population, except for rituximab-treated patients that presented a higher risk of infection and severe disease; (ii) the mortality rate in COVID-19-infected bullous pemphigoid patients was higher than in the general population, (iii) 121 cases of AIBD onset and 185 cases of relapse or exacerbation occurred after COVID-19 vaccination and a causal relationship has not been demonstrated so far. Altogether, acquired knowledge on COVID-19 pandemic could also be important in possible, albeit undesirable, future pandemic scenarios.
Underestimated clinical features of postadolescent acne Capitanio, Bruno, MD; Sinagra, Jo Linda, MD; Bordignon, Valentina, PhD ...
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,
11/2010, Letnik:
63, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Background Postadolescent acne is usually described as an inflammatory, mild-to-moderate dermatosis, frequently involving the lower third of the face, the jawline, and the neck. However, we have also ...frequently observed a clinical form predominantly characterized by retention lesions (microcomedones and macrocomedones), with few inflammatory lesions (comedonal postadolescent acne CPAA), which appears significantly correlated with cigarette smoking. Objective We sought to investigate the clinical features of postadolescent acne in a group of female patients affected by acne and its relationship with cigarette smoking. Methods A total of 226 women with acne (25-50 years) attending our department were examined by a team of 3 dermatologists, to assess the age of onset of the disease, and the number, type, and distribution of acne lesions. Results In all, 192 of 226 patients (85.0%) were classified as having CPAA and 34 as having papulopustular postadolescent acne. A smoking habit was confirmed in 150 of 226 (66.3%). Remarkably, 72.9% of patients with CPAA were smokers as compared with only 29.4% of those with papulopustular postadolescent acne ( P < .0001). Limitations Possible limitations are related to geographic area or to the prevalence of darker skin types (III and IV) (data about skin types have not been collected). Other possible aggravating factors (ie, stress and diet) have not been investigated. Conclusions According to our results, CPAA appears as the most frequent clinical form of postadolescent acne and seems to be strictly correlated with cigarette smoking.
Pemphigus is a life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease affecting skin and mucous membranes. Despite its etiopathogenesis remains largely unknown, several trigger and predisposing factors have ...been reported. Pemphigus is caused by autoantibodies that target desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3, impacting desmosome function. However, circulating autoantibodies are often the consequence of a precipitating factor that occurs in predisposed individuals. This review aims to describe and discuss almost all trigger and predisposing factors reported as possible or probable cause of the disease. Among the reported trigger factors that may induce or exacerbate pemphigus, we have found of particular interest: drug intake (especially thiol- and phenol-containing compounds), vaccines, infections, as well as some reports about pregnancy, radiations, emotional stress, pesticides and physical trauma. Moreover, we discuss the possible role of food intake in pemphigus onset and particular attention is given to dietary factors containing thiol, phenol and tannin compounds. A trigger factor is "the straw that breaks the camel's back," and often acts together with predisposing factors. Here we discuss how pemphigus onset may be influenced by genetic susceptibility and comorbidities like thyroid diseases, malignancies and other autoimmune disorders. To identify other hitherto unknown trigger and predisposing factors, well designed prospective studies are needed. In this context, future research should explore their connection with the aim to advance our understanding of pemphigus pathogenesis.
Mycobacterium abscessus is emerging as an important cause of cutaneous infections in sporadic cases and outbreak settings. Although immunosuppressed or elderly patients are most commonly affected, in ...2006 an outbreak of clinically distinct cutaneous lesions on the hands and feet caused by M. abscessus in a population of healthy children using a public swimming pool was reported. This article describes an outbreak of skin infection in a population of healthy Italian children attending the same school and using the same swimming pool. In January 2010 we identified three children with multiple, painful nodules on the palms and soles. M. abscessus was isolated from one child's lesions. A public health investigation was conducted and a team of dermatologists and public health officers visited all of the children; 514 children were screened and 29 cases were identified overall. All of the affected children had used the school's swimming pool. These children were treated with oral clarithromycin for 4 to 8 weeks. Because of the long period of time between the presentation and diagnosis of the first cases, the possibility that the number of cases may have been underestimated cannot be excluded. To our knowledge, this is the second largest reported cluster of M. abscessus skin infection suspected to be related to swimming pool exposure in a population of otherwise healthy children. It is unclear whether this disease is rare or should be considered as an emerging clinical entity.
Acne and smoking Capitanio, Bruno; Sinagra, Jo Linda; Ottaviani, Monica ...
Dermato-endocrinology
1, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background: Post-pubertal acne is an inflammatory form, whose cause is unknown. Contrasting data are available on correlation between acne and smoking habit.
Objectives: To verify the frequency of ...NIA among women, a possible correlation with cigarette smoking, possible differences in sebum composition in a group of smoker ladies with acne compared to healthy smokers and non smokers.
Method and results: 1046 randomly selected women (25-50 years old) took part in the study. Personal details were acquired. In 60 selected female subjects we analysed sebum composition for α-tocopherol, squalene and squalene monohydroperoxide. We found a high prevalence of NIA among women (74.6%), a strong correlation with smoking habit (p < 0.0001), as well as an increase in the grade of sebum peroxidation (p < 0.05) with a reduction in Vitamin E (p = 0.02), in the subjects with acne compared to the controls.
Conclusions: The clinical evidences and the experimental data showed a straight correlation between smoking habit and post-pubertal acne in which the non-inflammatory form (NIA) is the most frequent. In the more severe cases we could consider NIA as a new entity (smoker's acne)
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