2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin alters sebaceous gland cell differentiation in vitro

: Chloracne is a characteristic marker of intoxication by 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) or related compounds. Decreased lipogenesis is a prominent clinical sign in this disease. However, the activity of dioxins on human sebaceous glands is still unclear. In this study, the effects of TCDD on sebaceous gland differentiation were studied both in human skin samples maintained ex vivo and in cultured SZ95 sebocytes. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) protein expression, the receptor for dioxin, was detected in SZ95 sebocytes. Its expression was markedly inhibited by TCDD. Furthermore, we detected a reduced release of neutral lipids (10−10–10−8 m; P