my personal edition > acne > news


  E-Mail this DGReview to a colleague

DGReview

P. Acnes Has T-cell Mitogenic Activity In Acne Inflammation

There are two mechanisms of lymphocyte activation by Propionibacterium acnes cells in the inflammation of acne. Activation is both antigen driven and mitogen driven, a finding which is consistent with histological evidence of inflammation in acne lesions.

Researchers at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and the University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, used a lymphocyte transformation assay to detect responses to a mixture of eight Propionibacterium acnes whole cell isolates and their supernatant culture fluids.

To determine the nature of T-cell reactions to Propionibacterium acnes cells, the researchers used a mouse-antihuman major histocompatibility complex class II monoclonal antibody in the assay to inhibit the antigenic stimulation of lymphocytes. They analysed the T-cell receptor variable region with flow cytometry of the unstimulated and stimulated cells.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from adults with no history of acne responded strongly to stationary growth phase cells of Propionibacterium acnes but less strongly to cells in the exponential growth phase.

There was no response to supernatant culture fluids. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from five cord blood samples responded maximally after three and seven days of incubation with stationary growth phase cells of Propionibacterium acnes.

The reaction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the cord blood samples to Propionibacterium acnes cells was not suppressed completely by the blocking antibody.

The analysis of the T-cell receptor variable region repertoire indicated that Propionibacterium acnes induced no deletion or over-representation of certain variable region element-bearing T-cells. The T-cell receptor variable region analysis was repeated after preincubation with the blocking antibody.

Deletion of T-cells bearing certain variable region components occurred and there was no over-representation of T-cells carrying certain variable region components.
British Journal of Dermatology 2000; 146(2):202-209. "Propionibacterium acnes and inflammation in acne; P. acnes has T-cell mitogenic activity"

E-Mail this DGReview to a colleague

To print, use this version