Sebocytes contribute to melasma onset

Enrica Flori; Arianna Mastrofrancesco; Sarah Mosca; Monica Ottaviani; Stefania Briganti; Giorgia Cardinali; Angela Filoni; Norma Cameli; Marco Zaccarini; Christos C Zouboulis; Mauro Picardo

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.103871

Sebocytes contribute to melasma onset

iScience. 2022 Feb 4;25(3):103871. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103871. eCollection 2022 Mar 18.

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center of Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
² Dermatology Department, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
³ Genetic Research, Molecular Biology and Dermatopathology Unit, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodore Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Dessau, Germany.

Abstract

Melasma is a hyperpigmentary disorder with photoaging features, whose manifestations appear on specific face areas, rich in sebaceous glands (SGs). To explore the SGs possible contribution to the onset, the expression of pro-melanogenic and inflammatory factors from the SZ95 SG cell line exposed to single or repetitive ultraviolet (UVA) radiation was evaluated. UVA up-modulated the long-lasting production of α-MSH, EDN1, b-FGF, SCF, inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Irradiated SZ95 sebocyte conditioned media increased pigmentation in melanocytes and the expression of senescence markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors regulating melanogenesis in fibroblasts cultures. Cocultures experiments with skin explants confirmed the role of sebocytes on melanogenesis promotion. The analysis on sebum collected from melasma patients demonstrated that in vivo sebocytes from lesional areas express the UVA-activated pathways markers observed in vitro. Our results indicate sebocytes as one of the actors in melasma pathogenesis, inducing prolonged skin cell stimulation, contributing to localized dermal aging and hyperpigmentation.

Keywords: Biochemistry; Biological sciences; Molecular biology.