Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Distinct Plasma Metabolic Signatures in Acne Patients with and without Depression

Area of Science:

• Metabolomics
• Biochemistry
• Dermatology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Acne vulgaris frequently co-occurs with depression, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.
• Metabolomic profiling offers a way to identify biomarkers and altered biological pathways.
• This study aimed to investigate metabolic associations and pathways in patients with comorbid acne and depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore metabolic differences between acne patients with and without depression using untargeted metabolomics.
• To identify potential metabolic biomarkers associated with acne-depression comorbidity.
• To investigate perturbed metabolic pathways in acne patients experiencing depression.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-four acne patients were classified into depressive (PHQ-9 ≥10) and non-depressive (PHQ-9 <10) groups.
• Plasma samples were analyzed using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS).
• Data analysis involved XCMS, HMDB/METLIN annotation, PCA, OPLS-DA, and KEGG pathway analysis to identify differential metabolites and pathways.

Main Results:

• Twenty-four key differential metabolites were identified, including hypoxanthine, taurine, L-tryptophan, L-ascorbic acid, and palmitic acid.
• Distinct metabolic clustering patterns differentiated the depressive and non-depressive acne groups.
• The protein digestion and absorption pathway, along with five amino acid metabolism pathways, were significantly upregulated in acne patients with depression.

Conclusions:

• Hypoxanthine, taurine, and branched-chain amino acids may serve as biomarkers for acne-depression comorbidity.
• The protein digestion/absorption pathway presents a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target.
• Metabolic-neuroendocrine imbalance is suggested as a key factor underlying the comorbidity of acne and depression.