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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

A Rat Model of Compound Acne
Published on: November 1, 2024
Neuroendocrine regulation of sebocytes -- a pathogenetic link between stress and acne
Christos C Zouboulis1, Markus Böhm
1Department of Dermatology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. christos.zouboulis@charite.de
Abstract:
A causative link between emotional stress and acne has long been postulated. There is mounting evidence that the molecular mechanism underlying this observation is related to the expression of receptors for several neuroendocrine mediators by the sebaceous gland. Recent and ongoing studies have indicated that human sebocytes express functional receptors for corticotropin-releasing hormone, melanocortins, beta-endorphin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y and calcitonin gene-related peptide. After ligand binding, these receptors modulate the production of inflammatory cytokines, proliferation, differentiation, lipogenesis and androgen metabolism in sebocytes. By means of their autocrine, paracrine and endocrine actions, these neuroendocrine factors appear to mediate centrally and topically induced stress towards the sebaceous gland, ultimately affecting the clinical course of acne.
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