Life stage impact on the human skin ecosystem: lipids and the microbial community

Martin P. Pagac, Bala Davient, Luca Antonio Plado, Hilbert Yuen In Lam, Shi Mun Lee, Aarthi Ravikrishnan, Wee Ling Esther Chua, Sneha Muralidharan, Aishwarya Sridharan, Antony S. Irudayaswamy, Ramasamy Srinivas, Stephen Wearne, Ahmad Nazri Mohamed Naim, Eliza Xin Pei Ho, H. Q.Amanda Ng, Junmei Samantha Kwah, Eileen Png, Anne K. Bendt, Markus R. Wenk, Federico TortaNiranjan Nagarajan, John Common, Yap Seng Chong, Elizabeth Huiwen Tham, Lynette Pei Chi Shek, Evelyn Xiu Ling Loo, John Chambers, Yik Weng Yew, Marie Loh, Thomas L. Dawson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sebaceous free fatty acids are metabolized by multiple skin microbes into bioactive lipid mediators termed oxylipins. This study investigated correlations between skin oxylipins and microbes on the superficial skin of pre-pubescent children (N = 36) and adults (N = 100), including pre- (N = 25) and post-menopausal females (N = 25). Lipidomics and metagenomics revealed that Malassezia restricta positively correlated with the oxylipin 9,10-DiHOME on adult skin and negatively correlated with its precursor, 9,10-EpOME, on pre-pubescent skin. Co-culturing Malassezia with keratinocytes demonstrated a link between 9,10-DiHOME and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and IL-6 production. We also observed strong correlations between other skin oxylipins and microbial taxa, highlighting life stage differences in sebum production and microbial community composition. Our findings imply a complex host-microbe communication system mediated by lipid metabolism occurring on human skin, warranting further research into its role in skin health and disease and paving the way towards novel therapeutic targets and treatments.
Original languageEnglish
Article number13
Pages (from-to)13
Number of pages12
Journalnpj Biofilms and Microbiomes
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Jan 2025
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Age
  • Biosynthesis
  • Commensal
  • Gender
  • Inflammation
  • Keratinocytes
  • Malassezia
  • Sebaceous gland activity
  • Seborrheic dermatitis
  • Sebum content

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Life stage impact on the human skin ecosystem: lipids and the microbial community'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this