Correlations of SOX9 expression with serum IGF1 and inflammatory cytokines IL-1α and IL-6 in skin lesions of patients with acne.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlations of sex determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) expression with serum type-1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in skin lesion tissues of patients with acne.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients with acne who were treated for the first time in our outpatient clinic from June 2017 to July 2017 were selected as observation group, and 6 normal subjects were selected as control group. The expression of SOX9 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expressions of IGF-1, IL-1α, and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SOX9 was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

RESULTS: Compared with that in control group, the expression of SOX9 in observation group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with those in control group, the expressions of IGF-1, IL-1α and IL-6 in observation group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with that in control group, the mRNA expression of SOX9 in observation group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). SOX9 was positively correlated with IGF-1, IL-1α and IL-6.

CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of SOX9, IGF-1, IL-1α, and IL-6 in skin lesion tissues of patients with acne are increased, and SOX9 is positively correlated with IGF-1, IL-1α, and IL-6 and can be used as a target for the treatment of acne inflammation.