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. 2020 Oct;37(5):800-809.
doi: 10.5114/ada.2020.100492. Epub 2020 Nov 7.

The relationship among androgens, insulin resistance and ghrelin polymorphisms in post-adolescent male patients with severe acne vulgaris

Suzan Demir Pektas  1 , Nese Cinar  2 , Deniz Demircioglu Duman  3 , Ahmet Kara  4 , Janserey Batu  5 , Sevim Karakas-Celik  6 , Duygu Yazgan Aksoy  7
Affiliations

The relationship among androgens, insulin resistance and ghrelin polymorphisms in post-adolescent male patients with severe acne vulgaris

Suzan Demir Pektas et al. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: Ghrelin has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Data about the role of ghrelin and ghrelin polymorphisms in the development of acne vulgaris in post-adolescent male patients are limited.

Aim: To evaluate the role of serum androgens, insulin resistance, ghrelin and ghrelin polymorphisms in severe acne vulgaris.

Material and methods: Thirty-five post-adolescent male patients with a mean age of 28.0 ±5.4 years and 33 age-and BMI-matched controls were enrolled. Serum androgens, lipids, insulin sensitivity parameters and ghrelin levels were determined. The PCR method was used for GHRL polymorphisms (rs27647, rs696217 and rs34911341 genotypes).

Results: Patients had similar anthropometric measures to controls, except a significantly higher WHR in patients (0.92 ±0.06 vs. 0.86 ±0.08, p < 0.05). Also, FPG, HOMA-IR values, lipid profile and serum androgen levels were similar. Interestingly, patients had significantly lower ghrelin levels than controls (4.5 ±5.8 vs. 101.2 ±86.5 pg/ml, p < 0.001). The frequencies of rs696217 and rs34911341 genotypes were similar whereas the distribution of rs27647 alleles was significantly different between the groups (p < 0.05). GA and GG genotypes of GHRL rs27647 polymorphism indicated an increased risk of developing acne vulgaris (OR = 11.156, 95% CI: 2.864-43.464, OR = 5.312, 95% CI: 1.269-22.244, respectively; p < 0.05). Patients with rs27647-AA polymorphism had significantly lower GAGS scores than other groups (AA genotype 6.7 ±14.1 vs. GA genotype 24.6 ±15.7 and GG genotype 19.4 ±17.9, p < 0.001). None of the polymorphisms had a significant effect on metabolic parameters, insulin sensitivity and serum ghrelin levels.

Conclusions: Decreased ghrelin levels and GA and GG genotypes of GHRL gene rs27647 polymorphism may have a role in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.

Keywords: acne vulgaris; ghrelin; ghrelin polymorphisms; insulin resistance; post-adolescent.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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