Lipase inhibitors for the treatment of acne

Propionibacterium acnes lipase is an important factor in the pathogenesis of acne, because free fatty acids formed as a result of the effect of P. acnes lipase on sebaccous triglycerides induce severe inflammation. Tetracyclines have been the most common systemic therapy for acne due to their beneficial clinical effects, their inhibition of lipase activity of P. acnes as well as their inhibition of R acnes chemotaxis. Erythromycin and Jumi-haidoku-to also inhibit the lipase activity of P. acnes. Among R acnes biotypes and serotypes, stronger P acnes lipase activities were seen in R acnes biotype III and serotype II. Conversely, Propionibacterium granulosum is also isolated in acne lesions but has only a faint lipase activity, which might not be of significance. In the future, the degree of R acnes lipase activity in acne, identified by genetic techniques, needs to be compared to the condition of acne rash. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.