Zouboulis CC
Dermato-endocrinology. Date of publication 2009 Mar 1;volume 1(2):77-80.
1. Dermatoendocrinol. 2009 Mar;1(2):77-80.
Sebaceous gland receptors.
Zouboulis CC.
Receptors are proteins, embedded in a cell or cytoplasmic membrane, to which a
mobile signaling molecule may attach. Receptor ligands may be peptides (such as
neurotransmitters), hormones, pharmaceutical drugs and/or a toxins, whereas
"binding" ordinarily initiates a cellular response. Human sebocytes are
biologically and metabolically very active cells and consequently express
numerous receptors. Three of four groups of peptide/neurotransmitter receptors,
the so-called serpentine receptor group are present (corticotropin-releasing
hormone receptors 1 and 2, melanocortin-1 and 5 receptors, mu-opiate receptors,
VPAC receptors, cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2, vascular endothelial growth factor
receptor and histamine 1 receptor). The single-transmembrane domain receptors are
represented by the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and the third group,
which does not possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, by the growth factor
receptor. Nuclear receptors expressed in sebocytes are grouped into two major
subtypes. From the steroid receptor family, the androgen receptor and the
progesterone receptor are expressed. The thyroid receptor family includes the
estrogen receptors (alpha and beta isotypes), the retinoic acid receptors
(isotypes alpha and gamma) and retinoid X receptors (isotypes alpha, beta,
gamma), the vitamin D receptor, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
(isotypes alpha, delta and gamma) and the liver X receptors (alpha and beta
isotypes). The vanilloid receptor belongs to the transient ion channels and is
expressed in differentiating human sebocytes. Further sebocyte receptors, which
may influence their function are fibroblast growth factor receptor 2, epidermal
growth factor receptor, c-MET, CD14, Toll-like receptor 2, Toll-like receptor 4
and Toll-like receptor 6. Receptor-ligand interactions control sebocyte
proliferation, differentiation and lipid synthesis. However, not every ligand
that binds to a sebocyte receptor also activates it, such ligands are receptor
antagonists and inverse agonists.
DOI: 10.4161/derm.1.2.7804
PMCID: PMC2835895
PMID: 20224688
