Network pharmacology, transcriptomics, and biological validation reveal a lipid secretion inhibitory and anti-inflammatory mechanism of tanreqing gel in the treatment of acne.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease affecting the pilosebaceous unit, in which abnormal sebum secretion and inflammation play crucial roles. The traditional Chinese medicine Tanreqing has been utilized in dermatology to effectively treat various diseases. However, its effects and underlying mechanisms in acne vulgaris remain unclear.

Aim Of The Study: This study aims to assess the potential benefits of Tanreqing gel (TRQ) in acne treatment and to explore the mechanisms by which TRQ inhibits sebum secretion and reduces inflammation.

Materials And Methods: A mouse model of acne induced by Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) was established. The impact of TRQ on acne lesions was assessed using optical imaging and histopathology. Network pharmacology and transcriptomics were used to identify significant intervention pathways and targets. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to detect the expression of genes and proteins associated with inflammation and sebum metabolism.

Results: TRQ significantly improved pathological changes in the lesion areas of mice, such as redness, vascular dilation, and increased blood flow. It also reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the dermis and inhibited the accumulation of lipids in the sebaceous glands. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that TRQ might exert anti-inflammatory effects through the IL-17, TOLL-like receptor, and NF-κB signaling pathways. The transcriptomic analysis confirmed the importance of these pathways in the C. acnes-induced acne model. Furthermore, TRQ was found to reduce sebum secretion by inhibiting fatty acid biosynthesis through the suppression of proteins in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Cell experiments confirmed that TRQ could suppress the release of inflammatory factors induced by C. acnes surface structure peptidoglycan (PGN) and metabolite porphyrins. Additionally, it was observed to reverse the elevated porphyrin secretion associated with abnormal sebum production, ultimately relieving acne inflammation.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that TRQ effectively alleviates C. acnes-induced acne symptoms by inhibiting sebum secretion and inflammatory responses through multiple pathways and targets. It provides new insights and directions for acne treatment.