Abstract: Objective: To determine the effect of environmental pollutants benzopyrene (Bap) and gram positive bacteria bacterial wall peptidoglycan (PGN) on the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1βa and TNF-α) induced by typical in human SZ95 sebocytes in vitro. Methods: SZ95 sebocytes were cultured and divided into the blank control group, PNG group, Bap group and PNG+ Bap group. The concentration of PNG and Bap was 20μg/mL and 10-5mol/L. The mRNA and protein levels of the inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1βa and TNF-α) were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. Results: The levels of IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α in the Bap+PGN group were higher than those in other two groups, with significant differences (P<0.01). Conclusions: Bap synergistic and PGN induce the expression of sebocytes inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α, which may explain why environmental pollution can aggravate and induce acne.

Key words: Bap, PGN, human SZ95 sebocytes, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α