Epidermal growth factor receptor and the sebaceous gland

Side effects of EGFR inhibition do not include primary sebaceous gland changes. Dahlhoff et al. evaluated EGFR actions on the sebaceous glands in mutant mice with constitutively activated EGFR expression. Enlarged, hyperproliferative sebaceous glands and increased sebum levels were detected, and c-myc levels were increased. These data indicate that EGFR-induced sebocyte mechanisms are probably species-specific. The detected SCD deregulation is compatible with previous reports, whereas SCD is a marker of sebaceous differentiation, and its expression is essential for lipogenesis. As SCD expression is upregulated by TLR2 activation, there is a link between SCD overexpression and sebaceous differentiation/lipogenesis with inflammation.