Thematic review series: Skin Lipids. Sebaceous gland lipids: friend or foe?

K.R. Smith,D.M. Thiboutot

doi:10.1194/jlr.r700015-jlr200

Abstract

Sebaceous glands are intriguing glands that are found throughout the human body except on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The true function of these glands has yet to be determined, but there are several theories, including antioxidant effects, antibacterial effects, and transport of pheromones. Sebaceous glands produce lipids that are involved in the pathogenesis of one of the most prevalent diseases of adolescence, acne. Although the majority of lipids produced by the sebaceous gland are also produced in other areas of the body, there are two that are characteristic of the sebaceous gland, wax esters and squalene. This review seeks to present an update on the physiology of the sebaceous glands, with particular emphasis on the production of sebaceous lipids.

Highlights

Sebaceous glands are intriguing glands that are found throughout the human body except on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
Acne cannot occur without sebum, which serves as a nutrient source for P. acnes
Dihydrotestosterone plus insulin induced lipid-forming colonies. These data suggest that growth hormone stimulates sebocyte differentiation beyond that found with insulin-like growth factor (IGF) or insulin; yet it had no effect on growth

Summary

DISEASES OF THE SEBACEOUS GLAND

Acne Acne is the most common disorder involving the sebaceous gland. The pathogenesis of acne centers on the interplay of: 1) sebum (lipid) production by the sebaceous gland; 2) colonization of the hair follicle by Propionibacterium acnes; 3) hyperkeratinization of the upper follicle; and 4) release of inflammatory mediators into the skin [3]. There is an unmet need in the treatment of acne for agents that safely reduce sebum production in both men and women. Areas that are commonly affected are those that contain a higher density of sebaceous glands, such as the face, ears, scalp, and upper part of the trunk. Copyright D 2008 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. This article is available online at http://www.jlr.org. This article is available online at http://www.jlr.org The mainstay of treatment is surgery, but radiation may be used for patients with eyelid neoplasms

SEBACEOUS GLAND DEVELOPMENT

Wax esters

LIPIDS OF THE SEBACEOUS GLAND

Wax esters Squalene Cholesterol

SEBACEOUS GLAND FUNCTION

REGULATION OF SEBACEOUS GLAND FUNCTION

IGF and growth hormone

SEBACEOUS GLAND MODEL SYSTEMS

Growth of human sebocytes in monolayer

Growth of human sebaceous cellnad glands in primary culture

Findings

FUTURE DIRECTIONS