Particulate matter 2.5 regulates lipid synthesis and inflammatory cytokine production in human SZ95 sebocytes

A large body of evidence indicates that particulate matter (PM)2.5 is associated with various negative effects on human health. However, the impact and molecular mechanism of PM2.5 on the skin have not been elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of two types of PM2.5 [water-soluble extracts (W-PM2.5) and non-water-soluble extracts (NW-PM2.5)] on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, lipid synthesis, and inflammatory cytokine production of human SZ95 sebocytes. The results demonstrated that NW-PM2.5 and W-PM2.5 exposure dose-dependently inhibited SZ95 sebocyte proliferation by inducing G1 cell arrest. Furthermore, NW-PM2.5 and W-PM2.5 significantly reduced sebaceous lipid synthesis and markedly promoted the production of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-6 and IL-8 in SZ95 sebocytes. Additionally, the expression of aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator protein (ARNT), as well as cytochrome P450 1A1 were significantly increased following PM2.5 exposure. Thus, these findings indicate that PM2.5 exerts inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and lipid synthesis, and stimulatory effects on inflammatory cytokine production and AhR signaling activation in human SZ95 sebocytes.