Lipidomics of facial sebum in the comparison between acne and non-acne adolescents with dark skin

Obumneme Emeka Okoro,Federico Marini,Emanuela Camera,Matteo Ludovici,Adebomi Adenle,Mauro Truglio

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96043-x

Abstract

Lipidomics is advantageous in the study of sebum perturbations occurring in acne. An extended evaluation of the sebum lipid profiles in acne-prone sebaceous areas is lacking in dark skin. Yet, there is a void space in understanding how the building blocks of sebum lipids, i.e. individual fatty acids (FAs), are intertwined with acne-prone skin. We aimed to determine the sebum lipidome in facial areas of adolescents with and without acne in Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 60 adolescents/young adults divided in 30 acne patients (15F, 15M) and 30 age and sex-matched controls. Sebum samples obtained from foreheads and cheeks were analysed separately by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS) and thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Distributions of sebum components were investigated with multivariate ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis (ASCA). Sebum incretion in acne was paralleled by significantly higher abundance of triglycerides, wax esters, and squalene together with monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs), and straight chain saturated FAs (SFAs), especially those with odd-carbon chain, i.e. C13:0, C15:0, and C17:0. Profiling weight/weight percentage of individual components revealed that, in acne, the free FAs (FFAs) array was shifted towards higher relative abundance of the SFAs C15:0, C16:0, and C17:0 and lower percentage of the anteiso-branched FFAs with 12, 14, 16, and 18 carbons. In acne patients, MUFAs and PUFAs were quantitatively increased and decreased on foreheads and cheeks, respectively. Relative abundance of fatty alcohols was decreased in acne independent on the site. The results indicated that acne associates with site-specific derangement of the pathways regulating the balance among odd straight-chain and branched-chain SFAs, MUFAs, which included sapienate (C16:1n-10), PUFAs, and squalene.

Highlights

Lipidomics is advantageous in the study of sebum perturbations occurring in acne
The amounts of sebum components were unevenly distributed on the face of the acne group, with cheeks bearing more sebum than foreheads
The overall results demonstrated that the facial sebum secretion was higher in acne patients compared to age and gender matched controls, at both face sites, in keeping with established pathogenic factors of acne[10]

Summary

Introduction

An extended evaluation of the sebum lipid profiles in acne-prone sebaceous areas is lacking in dark skin. We aimed to determine the sebum lipidome in facial areas of adolescents with and without acne in Nigeria. The unbalanced triglycerides (TGs) to wax esters (WEs) r atio[16,17] and higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)[18] characterize acne sebum. Pappas et al.[19] reported that squalene levels were higher in acne patients while our group reported higher levels of diglycerides (DGs) in sebum of adolescents with acne[20].

Objectives

Results

Conclusion