TREM2 Macrophages Induced by Human Lipids Drive Inflammation in Acne Lesions

July 2022 in “ Science Immunology ”

Tran Do, Feiyang Ma, Priscila Ribeiro Andrade, Rosane M. B. Teles, Bruno Jorge de Andrade Silva, Chanyue Hu, Alejandro Espinoza, Jer-En Hsu, Chun‐Seok Cho, Myungjin Kim, Jingyue Xi, Xianying Xing, Olesya Plazyo, Lam C. Tsoi, Carol E. Cheng, Jenny Kim, Bryan D. Bryson, Alan M. O’Neill, Marco Colonna, Jóhann E. Guðjónsson, Eynav Klechevsky, Jun Hee Lee, Richard L. Gallo, Barry R. Bloom, Matteo Pellegrini, Robert L. Modlin

TREM2 macrophages acne squalene Cutibacterium acnes benzoyl peroxide lipid metabolism proinflammatory genes hair follicles oxidative enzymes free radicals unsaturated lipids C. acnes BPO

TLDR TREM2 macrophages and unsaturated lipids contribute to acne inflammation.

The study explores the role of TREM2 macrophages in acne lesions, showing that these macrophages, induced by lipids like squalene from sebaceous glands, contribute to inflammation by reducing the ability to kill Cutibacterium acnes bacteria. Using single-cell and spatial RNA sequencing, the research identifies proinflammatory pathways linked to TREM2 macrophages, suggesting new therapeutic targets for acne treatment. The findings also explain the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide, as squalene inhibits oxidative enzyme induction and scavenges oxygen free radicals, similar to processes in atherosclerosis.