Sebaceous glands (SGs) have a dual role – lipid metabolism and inflammation. Study of master gene regulators involved may hold the key to effective therapies for diseases such as acne that affects up to 90 % of teenagers in the Western world.
The EU-funded RNASEBGLAND (Regulation of gene expression in sebaceous glands) project has identified and linked common genetic programmes and their possible regulators in SGs that lead to this interesting dual function and related inflammatory diseases.
Further information: Genetic and epigenetic cross-talk and effects on acne development