The Chemoattractant Properties of Comedonal Components

Acculation of clusters of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) along the periphery of the walls of comedones (predominantly of the closed variety), has been described as the first change marking the transition of quiescent, noninflamed lesions in acne, into inflammatory ones. The present study analyzed the chemoattractant properties of different comedonal components for human PMN in an effort to evaluate the potential significance of these substances in stimulating the chemotactic response of PMN in the initial phases of inflammatory acne. It was found that the lipids extracted from pooled comedones had chemotactic activity for PMN in vitro. Beyond that, all chemotactic activity in comedones was related to bacteria. Propionibacterium acnes produced low molecular weight, dialyzable, heat stable chemotactic factors which were released into culture medium during bacterial growth. In addition to the extracellular cytotaxins, P. acnes whole cells and other extracellular products were strong cytotaxigens and activated heat labile chemotactic factors in human and guinea pig serum.