Skin Microbiome Restruction and Lipid Metabolism Profile Alteration Reveal the Treatment Mechanism of Cryptotanshinone in the Acne Rat

Acne has become one of the most prevalent skin disorders, affecting most young people physical and mental health globally. Cryptotanshinone (CPT) is a potential drug for acne, but its mechanism of acne treatment has not been thoroughly studied on the microbiota. Even little attention is paid to the changes of skin microbiota and lipid metabolites on acne treatment. The 16Sr DNA sequencing was used to detect skin microbiota composition, and absolute quantitative lipidomics was utilized to identify lipid metabolites profiles level. Four key proteins of the glycolysis pathway were detected with immunochemistry method. Antibacterial analysis was used to evaluate on CPT treatment acne. CPT significantly inhibited Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Combination of skin microbiome and lipidomics analysis, 29 types of differentially expressed flora (DEFs) and 782 differentially expressed lipid metabolites (DELMs) were significantly altered, especially Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Ralstonia, Enhydrobacter, Burkholderia and Streptococcus. Cer was mainly regulated by Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium, whereas TG and DG were mainly regulated by Ralstonia, Enhydrobacter, Burkholderia and Streptococcus. The glycolysis pathway was significantly regulated by Staphylococcus on CPT treatment of acne. The energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, immune system, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism could be reversed by CPT. CPT might help acne rats rebuild their skin microbiota and alter lipid metabolism signatures. Moreover, the skin microbes have a close relationship with skin lipid metabolites and both were regulated by CPT, the work could provide a research foundation for the discovery of biomarkers of skin microbiome imbalance and targeted treatment of acne development mechanisms.