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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Dermatology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1518382

Effect of afzelin on inflammation and lipogenesis in particulate matterstimulated C. acnes-treated SZ95 sebocytes

Provisionally accepted
Ji Yeon Hong Ji Yeon Hong 1Yong Hee Choi Yong Hee Choi 1*Yoon Jin Roh Yoon Jin Roh 1Mi-Kyung Lee Mi-Kyung Lee 1*Christos C. Zouboulis Christos C. Zouboulis 2Kui Young Park Kui Young Park 1*
  • 1 Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 2 Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg an der Havel, Brandenburg, Germany

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Afzelin, a flavonoid (kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside) isolated from Thesium chinense, is known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effects on the molecular aspects of inflammation and lipogenesis in SZ95 sebocytes has not been investigated.Objective: This study aimed to (i) investigate inflammatory and sebum secretion changes when a Cutibacterium acnes-treated immortalized human sebocyte cell line (SZ95) is exposed to particulate matter (PM) and (ii) examine the effects of afzelin on these.To investigate the effect of afzelin on PM-and C. acnes-treated SZ95 sebocytes, we injected heat-killed C. acnes into SZ95 cells to induce acne-like status. Thereafter, the SZ95 sebocytes were treated with PM and subsequently with afzelin. The gene expression profile was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, and protein expression was confirmed via western blotting and immunofluorescence. Intracellular lipid droplet formation was investigated using Nile Red O staining.Results: PM treatment upregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokine and lipogenic genes in C. acnes-treated SZ95 sebocytes. Furthermore, intracellular lipid-droplet accumulation increased when C. acnes-stimulated SZ95 cells were exposed to 4 PM. Interestingly, the upregulated inflammatory and lipogenic gene expression induced by C. acnes and PM was attenuated by afzelin treatment.Conclusions: This study's findings indicate that PM potentially aggravates acne by acting on both inflammation and sebum secretion. They also reveal afzelin's ability to suppress these phenomena by not only suppressing inflammatory cytokine expression but also inhibiting sebogenesis. These findings confirm afzelin's potential therapeutic role in improving PMexacerbated acne.

    Keywords: C. acnes, Inflammatory, Afzelin, Particulate Matter, Sebocyte, Acne Vulgaris

    Received: 28 Oct 2024; Accepted: 13 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Hong, Choi, Roh, Lee, Zouboulis and Park. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Yong Hee Choi, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    Mi-Kyung Lee, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    Kui Young Park, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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