Background: Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder caused by inflammatory biomarkers. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) is a stable precursor of vitamin C. It achieves a constant delivery of vitamin C into the skin and has antioxidative effects.
Objective: We performed this study to evaluate the effect of MAP on the expression of inflammatory biomarkers in cultured sebocytes.
Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed for inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) before and after treatment of cultured sebocytes with MAP (10(-2) M), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (5 µg/ml) and a combination of MAP and LPS. RT-PCR and western blotting were also performed for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 before and after treatment of cultured sebocytes with MAP, LPS, and a combination of MAP and LPS. Quantification of lipid peroxidation was also conducted.
Results: The increased expression of inflammatory cytokines after treatment of cultured sebocytes with LPS was decreased after treatment with MAP. MMPs, AMPs, and TLR-4 were decreased after treatment of cultured sebocytes with MAP and a combination of MAP and LPS, and increased after treatment of cultured sebocytes with LPS alone. Lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased after treatment of cultured sebocytes with MAP and a combination of MAP and LPS. MAP decreased the increased lipid peroxidation after treatment of cultured sebocytes with LPS.
Conclusion: MAP may be an effective alternative agent to improve inflammatory reactions in acne.
Keywords: Acne vulgaris; Ascorbate-2-phosphate; Cytokines; Lipopolysaccharides; Sebocytes.