Possible role of DP IV inhibitors in acne therapy.

The presented data provide evidence that DP IV is expressed on human sebocytes and most likely involved in regulation of sebocyte proliferation and cytokine production. The aminopeptidase inhibitors Lys[Z(NO2)]-thiazolidide and Lys[Z(NO2)]-pyrrolidide suppress proliferation of three cells types involved in acne initiation; moreover, they induce the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1RA in sebocytes and keratinocytes being capable to follicular hyperkeratosis, and they up-regulate the immunosuppressive cytokine transforming growth factor-β1 in P. acnes-stimulated T cells.