Acne, an inflammatory skin condition of the pilosebaceous unit, possesses multifactorial pathogenesis with a central role of inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines mediators. Down-regulated Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) causes rapid secretion of many cytokines involved in acne pathogenesis.

The present study evaluated the level of KLF2 mRNA and clarified its role in acne pathogenesis and its relation to acne lesion type, degree of severity and outcome.

It measured the level of KLF2 mRNA in 100 patients with acne and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

The study observed:

• Lesser KLF2 mRNA in acne patients than in the control group, being lowest in the inflammatory acne group (grades III, IV and V) than in the noninflammatory acne group (grades I and II) and highest in the control group.
• Significantly decreased KLF2 mRNA with increased acne severity grade.
• Lesser KLF2 mRNA in cases healed by scars than those healed by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

This study shows that a decreased serum level of KLF2 contributes to acne vulgaris pathogenesis and is also a predictor of the degree of acne severity and outcome.

Source: Ibrahim MA, Mohammed SA, Elhabak DM. Role of KLF2: New insight in inflammatory acne pathogenesis. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(3):964-70.