SUMMARY:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Dermatology have developed a new treatment for acne that can effectively alleviate the inflammatory response caused by acne-inducing bacteria.
BACKGROUND:
Acne is a chronic skin disease that was estimated to affect 633 million people globally in 2015, ranking as the 8th most common disease in the world. Cutibacterium acnes (formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes) is a Gram-positive, microaerophilic bacillus that is one of the major factors driving inflammation in acne. The overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes obstructs the hair follicle, causing destruction of the lining of the follicle and activation of the inflammatory response. Inflammation in acne exacerbates the symptoms, leading to more serious blemishes deeper in the skin and cause scarring.
Although medications for Cutibacterium acnes-associated acne are available, they come with distinctive drawbacks:
- Benzoyl peroxide, a topical antiseptic acne treatment, does not target bacteria specifically and can result in apoptosis of healthy skin cells
- Antibiotics, despite drug specificity, contributes toward the growing number of antibacterial resistant strains of bacteria
- Retinoid therapy has been associated with significant levels of systemic toxicity
- Lack of remission between one- and two-third of patients treated using existing medications on the market place (BCC report).
INNOVATION:
The treatment developed by the UCLA researchers is based on preventing the inflammatory immune response elicited by different phylotypes of Cutibacterium acnes. The treatment can effectively alleviate the inflammatory response caused by acne-induced bacteria and be administered topically, orally, transdermally, subcutaneously, or by injection. Due to its unique formulation, the treatment can be administered once or multiple times with flexible dosages and can be used in combination with retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and other currently available therapies.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• Novel treatment for acne and other inflammatory diseases caused by Cutibacterium acnes
ADVANTAGES:
• Elicit an anti-inflammatory response to alleviate the inflammation induced by Cutibacterium acnes
• Can be administered topically, orally, transdermally, subcutaneously, or by injection
• Can be administered in combination with other skincare products or acne treatment procedures
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:
This invention has been developed and tested in vitro.
Related Papers (from the inventors only)
Yu, Yang, et al. "Different Propionibacterium acnes Phylotypes Induce Distinct Immune Responses and Express Unique Surface and Secreted Proteomes." The Journal of Investivative Dermatology. 2016 Nov; 136(11):2221-2228.
doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.06.615