Different pro-inflammatory and immunogenic potentials of Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis: implications for chronic inflammatory acne.

INTRODUCTION Propionibacterium acnes (PA) and Staphyloccocus epidermidis (SE) are two major bacterial strains isolated from acne lesions. Nevertheless, only PA seems to be implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory acne vulgaris. Evidence for this, however, remains indirect and the precise role of PA in inflammatory acne is still a matter for conjecture. The aim of this study was to compare some pro-inflammatory and adjuvant properties of PA and SE. MATERIAL/METHODS To determine some of the pathogenic, immunostimulatory, and pro-inflammatory proper of PA and SE, two experimental models of inflammation were used. In vivo; chronic inflammation was induced by intradermal injection of living bacteria into the ear. In vitro; peritoneal macrophages elicited by the bacteria were examined for their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and cytokines. RESULTS PA, but not SE, evoked mild local inflammation of infected ears. Macrophages elicited with PA produced more tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin IL-12 than those induced with SE, while SE was a stronger inducer of IL-10 production. Both bacteria equally induced the generation of NO and ROS. In contrast, only PA showed adjuvant proper-ties. CONCLUSIONS The results of these studies indicate that SE, in contrast to PA, does not exert pro-inflammatory properties. Thus it is unlikely that SE may be implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory acne vulgaris.