Haytham El Sayed Ali
Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Egypt
Title: Immunolocalization of NRF2 in acne vulgaris
Biography
Biography: Haytham El Sayed Ali
Abstract
State of problem: Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition. It is characterized by a variable combination of comedones, pustules, inflammation, and scarring. NRF2 is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein that produced in response to oxidative stress to induce the expression of antioxidant genes to protect against oxidative damage as well as several target genes that regulate both cell proliferation, differentiation and inflammation. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the possible role of NRF2 in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Immunohistochemical localization of NRF2 in inflammatory and non inflammatory acne compared to normal skin was performed, in addition of correlating NRF2 expression with the clinical and pathological parameters of acne. The current study investigated thirty patients with acne and 30 controls. NRF2 was expressed in the acne group compared with the control group (p<0.001). This was demonstrated by higher expression positivity (perifollicular (66.7%), follicular (60%) epidermis and dermis (50%), intensity and H score in cases than in those of controls (43.3%). NRF2 was demonstrated to correlate to disease inflammation as it was upregulated in inflammatory acne than in non inflammatory (p<0.001). NRF2 expression in perifollicular and follicular epidermis was associated with early age onset p<0.001 & p=0.008 and with moderate and strong inflammatory severity p=0.006 & p=0.009 respectively. Conclusion & Significance: The upregulation of NRF2 in response to the oxidative stress could participate in acne pathogenesis through its role in both sebaceous gland and hair follicle proliferation, differentiation and through its inflammatory effect. Using of NRF2 target therapy could be beneficial in treatment of acne.