Ligand-Independent Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Hyperactivation Increases Sebaceous Gland Size and Sebum Secretion in Mice

The study investigated the effects of ligand-independent hyperactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on sebaceous glands (SGs) in D sk5 mice. These mice exhibited increased sebum production and enlarged SGs with a higher cell count and enhanced proliferation compared to control mice. Elevated c-myc transcript levels suggested its role in mediating EGFR-induced proliferation in SGs. Additionally, the expression of differentiation markers S cd1 and S cd3 was deregulated, indicating altered sebaceous lipogenesis. The findings concluded that EGFR played a crucial role in regulating presebocyte proliferation, affecting the size, cell number, and lipid output of SGs.