How skin oils, bacteria, and the immune system cause acne
Acne: a disease of lipid metabolism, microbiome and the immune response
This project looks at how skin oils, microbes, and immune cells cause acne to help people with inflammatory acne.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178636 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to give small skin biopsy samples and other skin specimens so researchers can study the cells in acne lesions. Scientists will use single-cell and spatial RNA sequencing, metagenomics, and lipidomics to map immune cells, bacteria, and lipid changes in affected skin. The team is concentrating on TREM2-expressing macrophages and adipogenic fibroblasts that are over-represented in acne lesions. Results will be used to link the microbiome and lipid metabolism to the local immune response and build a model of acne development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with active inflammatory acne who can attend clinic visits in Southern California and are willing to provide small skin biopsy samples.
Not a fit: People with only mild, non-inflammatory acne or those unwilling to undergo biopsy are less likely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targeted treatments or tests that reduce inflammation, pimples, and scarring.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked Cutibacterium acnes, skin lipids, and immunity to acne, but combining single-cell, spatial, metagenomic, and lipidomic analyses on human biopsy samples is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Modlin, Robert L — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Modlin, Robert L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.