Dermal Fibroblasts Enhance Growth Factors Production by Androgens and Modulate Keratinocyte Proliferation and Differentiation
TLDR Androgens increase growth factors in skin cells, which may lead to acne.
The study investigated the role of sex hormones in acne development, focusing on how androgens affect keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation through dermal fibroblasts. The researchers stimulated cultured dermal fibroblasts with testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estrogens, observing a significant increase in growth factors such as amphiregulin and epiregulin with T and DHT. These androgens also increased fibroblast growth factor 10 and insulin-like growth factors, which did not occur with direct keratinocyte stimulation. Co-culturing fibroblasts with keratinocytes showed that pre-incubation with T or DHT led to increased keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, an effect that was suppressed by tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Immunostaining of acne lesions revealed higher growth factor expression in the dermis compared to non-lesional skin. The findings suggest that androgens may contribute to acne by inducing growth factor production in dermal fibroblasts, which then affects keratinocyte behavior, implicating the interaction between fibroblasts and keratinocytes in acne pathogenesis related to sex hormones.
