Serum resistin levels and resistin gene polymorphism in patients with acne vulgaris: does it correlate with disease severity?

Background: Acne vulgaris is a disease that inflames the sebaceous gland with multiple etiologies. Many proinflammatory adipokines contribute to this pathogenesis. Resistin is a proinflammatory mediator that activates kappa B, a nuclear factor, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases pathways inducing toll-like receptor-2, interleukin-1, 6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Resistin gene affects the promoter and intron regions' polymorphisms' expression levels. We aimed to study the association of resistin gene polymorphisms (RETN -420 C/G) and the development of acne vulgaris and whether it is associated with serum resistin levels and disease severity.

Methods: Resistin (RETN) gene (rs1862513) genotypes were identified using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and serum resistin presence was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 40 patients with acne vulgaris and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls as a cross-reference. Patients were divided into mild, moderate, and severe groups. Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) was used to assess the severity of acne vulgaris.

Results: CG and GG genotypes were present in cases (P = 0.006) odds ratio (OR)1  = 4.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.53, 12.7) and OR2  = 5.47; 95% CI (0.99, 30.1); G-allele statistically dominated in the patient group where P = 0.001 and OR = 3.57; 95% CI (1.63, 7.80). A positive significant relationship between RETN genotypes and serum resistin levels and GAGS score was present.

Conclusions: RETN genes rs1862513 GG and G allele are correlated to acne vulgaris development and severity in a sample of the Egyptian population. This study comprised a small sample size. The cases may not accurately represent the general population; only one clinic was enrolled in the study.