# IN VITRO GROWTH AND METABOLISM OF HUMAN SEBACEOUS CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $116,182

## Abstract

The goals of the proposal are to develop a defined medium for the serial
cultivation of human sebaceous cells (acinar and ductile), to further
characterize the lipids, proteins, and glycoproteins synthesized by the
isolated cells, and to determine how androgens and retinoids control lipid
production and cell maturation.

To determine lipid synthesis, acinar cells will be pulsed with C14-acetate
and C14-glucose and polar and non-polar lipids will be separated by
sequential thin layer and gas chromatography.  Lipogenesis by component
cells and by intact glands in organ culture will be compared to verify the
accuracy of the cell models.  To study fibrous protein synthesis, cells
will be labeled with S35-methionine and keratin polypeptides analyzed by
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.  To follow maturation and the factors
which control this process, transglutaminase will be asayed in both acinar
and ductile cells.

The above analytical procedures will be used to determine how androgens
(dihydrotestosterone) and retinoids (13-cis retinoic acid) regulate growth,
protein, and lipid synthesis in sebaceous cells.  We will specifically test
the hypothesis that retinoids control growth in acinar cells by altering
specific membrane glycoproteins, and that wax ester synthesis occurs only
during the terminal maturation of acinar cells.

In the past, studies of human sebaceous gland function and metabolism were
limited to the collection and analysis of skin surface lipids and to the
study of the intact glands in skin biopsies.  No methods to isolate and
study viable individual cells of the gland have been available.  The
studies of this proposal will provide a new in vitro model for the study of
the normal human sebaceous cell and will establish the basic biochemistry
of this cell line.  The long range goal of the investigator is to use these
cells as models to determine the physiologic and biochemical changes that
produce acne.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157084
- **Project number:** 5R01AR035179-03
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJD6G4D6TJY5
- **Principal Investigator:** MARVIN A KARASEK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $116,182
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-01 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157084

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157084, IN VITRO GROWTH AND METABOLISM OF HUMAN SEBACEOUS CELLS (5R01AR035179-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157084. Licensed CC0.

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