Estrogen Regulates the Expression of Retinoic Acid Synthesis Enzymes and Binding Proteins in Mouse Skin
October 2021
in “Nutrition research”
TLDR Estrogen affects how vitamin A is processed in mouse skin, which may impact acne treatment, hair growth, and skin defense.
This study investigated the role of estrogen (specifically 17-beta-estradiol, E2) in regulating vitamin A metabolism within the pilosebaceous unit (PSU) of the skin, which is involved in hair growth and sebum production. The researchers found that estrogen receptors and aromatase were present in the same areas as retinoid metabolism proteins during the mid-anagen phase of hair growth. They treated male and female C57BL/6J mice with E2, an estrogen receptor antagonist (ICI 182,780), letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor), a combination of E2 and letrozole, or a control. The results showed that E2 or its inhibitors affected the expression of most vitamin A metabolism genes and proteins in a sex-dependent manner, with higher levels in females and reductions observed with ICI treatment. Reduced estrogen levels also decreased retinoic acid receptors in the sebaceous gland and bulge in females, while increasing retinal dehydrogenase 2 positive cells in males. These findings suggest that estrogen has a regulatory effect on vitamin A metabolism in the skin, which could have implications for acne treatment, hair loss, and skin immunity.
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