P. acnes can induce inflammatory reactions, through complement activation and induction of proinflammatory cytokines.29, 30 Induction of cytokines such as IL‐6 and IL‐8, partly through activation of toll‐like receptors (TLRs), is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of acne,31 and has been demonstrated to occur in both skin and prostate cells infected by P. acne. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is acne.