Gene expression study in Acne

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Anti-inflammatory effects of a topical preparation containing nicotinamide: "Anti-inflammatory effects of a topical preparation containing nicotinamide, retinol, and 7-dehydrocholesterol in patients with acne: a gene expression study"

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This study published recently in dovepress journal, Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology highlights the importance of dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and pro inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 in acne. The study shows that many MMPs and IL-6 are down-regulated when a topical preparation containing nicotinamide, retinol, and 7-dehydrocholesterol is applied. But does it mean that these MMPs are up-regulated in active acne? Except for MMP1, all other MMPs found to be down-regulated are gelatinases and not collagenases. Zinc is an important cofactor for MMPs while doxycycline is an inhibitor. Both are found to be useful in the treatment of acne. So the MMP expression changes demonstrated in this study could just be an incidental finding!

Related articles

• Increased immunoreactivity of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) and β-catenin in high-risk basal cell carcinoma (dx.doi.org)
• Management strategies for acne vulgaris (dovepress.com)
• Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Inhibitory Activities of Morinda citrifolia Seed Extract and Its Constituents in UVA-Irradiated Human Dermal Fibroblasts. (medworm.com)
• An increased incidence of Propionibacterium acnes biofilms in acne vulgaris: a case‐control study (medworm.com)

A nail-biting story!

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Recently a physician friend showed me a gray longitudinal streak on his fingernail and asked me if he was going to die soon. He had read in a health magazine that a longitudinal dark streak on your fingernail could be a sign of a lethal cancer called melanoma affecting the nail matrix. I showed him one of my fingernails with a similar streak and told him with a smile: “If you are going, I am coming with you!”

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