Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients

Abstract Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex pathogenesis, and its association with insulin resistance (IR) remains unclear. This study aimed to identify differential proteins linking AV and IR to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Plasma proteomic pr...

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Main Authors: Yu Rao, Zheng Lei, Siyu Chen, Xiaoping Zhu, Zongzhe Jiang, Yang Xu, Xia Xiong, Yongmei Liao, Xiqian Chen, Qian Tang, Zongjunlin Liu, Changqiang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12344-5
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author Yu Rao
Zheng Lei
Siyu Chen
Xiaoping Zhu
Zongzhe Jiang
Yang Xu
Xia Xiong
Yongmei Liao
Xiqian Chen
Qian Tang
Zongjunlin Liu
Changqiang Li
author_facet Yu Rao
Zheng Lei
Siyu Chen
Xiaoping Zhu
Zongzhe Jiang
Yang Xu
Xia Xiong
Yongmei Liao
Xiqian Chen
Qian Tang
Zongjunlin Liu
Changqiang Li
author_sort Yu Rao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex pathogenesis, and its association with insulin resistance (IR) remains unclear. This study aimed to identify differential proteins linking AV and IR to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Plasma proteomic profiling by using LC-MS/MS was performed on 90 AV patients (with IR [n = 40], without IR [n = 50]) and 30 healthy controls (with IR [n = 11], without IR [n = 19]). Differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using bioinformatics tool to identify key molecules and pathways. Candidate molecules were screened based on their positive correlations with both AV severity and insulin levels. In group AV with IR, C4BPA was highly expressed, showed strong positive correlations (Pearson’s R = 0.46, p = 4.21E-6) with insulin levels and were enriched in complement agglutination cascade and B-cell-mediated immune pathways. In group AV, C4BPA (Pearson’s R = 0.23, p = 0.03) also correlated with AV severity (GAGS scores) and was enriched in complement and coagulation cascades and leukocyte-mediated immunity. C4BPA acted as a key molecule, bridging IR and AV pathogenesis. This study offers a highly valuable proteomic resource for AV associated with IR and proposes a mechanistic hypothesis, supported by existing literature, that insulin exacerbates acne by regulating lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways with C4BPA potentially acting as a central mediator in this process.
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spelling doaj-art-3d63333eab3d4bed9a75517fc2bd54c02025-08-20T03:42:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-12344-5Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patientsYu Rao0Zheng Lei1Siyu Chen2Xiaoping Zhu3Zongzhe Jiang4Yang Xu5Xia Xiong6Yongmei Liao7Xiqian Chen8Qian Tang9Zongjunlin Liu10Changqiang Li11Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Hejiang People’s HospitalDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical UniversityAbstract Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex pathogenesis, and its association with insulin resistance (IR) remains unclear. This study aimed to identify differential proteins linking AV and IR to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Plasma proteomic profiling by using LC-MS/MS was performed on 90 AV patients (with IR [n = 40], without IR [n = 50]) and 30 healthy controls (with IR [n = 11], without IR [n = 19]). Differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using bioinformatics tool to identify key molecules and pathways. Candidate molecules were screened based on their positive correlations with both AV severity and insulin levels. In group AV with IR, C4BPA was highly expressed, showed strong positive correlations (Pearson’s R = 0.46, p = 4.21E-6) with insulin levels and were enriched in complement agglutination cascade and B-cell-mediated immune pathways. In group AV, C4BPA (Pearson’s R = 0.23, p = 0.03) also correlated with AV severity (GAGS scores) and was enriched in complement and coagulation cascades and leukocyte-mediated immunity. C4BPA acted as a key molecule, bridging IR and AV pathogenesis. This study offers a highly valuable proteomic resource for AV associated with IR and proposes a mechanistic hypothesis, supported by existing literature, that insulin exacerbates acne by regulating lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways with C4BPA potentially acting as a central mediator in this process.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12344-5Acne vulgarisDifferential proteinsInsulin resistancePlasmaProteome
spellingShingle Yu Rao
Zheng Lei
Siyu Chen
Xiaoping Zhu
Zongzhe Jiang
Yang Xu
Xia Xiong
Yongmei Liao
Xiqian Chen
Qian Tang
Zongjunlin Liu
Changqiang Li
Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients
Scientific Reports
Acne vulgaris
Differential proteins
Insulin resistance
Plasma
Proteome
title Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients
title_full Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients
title_fullStr Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients
title_full_unstemmed Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients
title_short Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients
title_sort differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients
topic Acne vulgaris
Differential proteins
Insulin resistance
Plasma
Proteome
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12344-5
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