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Sebocytes

Meaning

Sebocytes are the specialized, lipid-producing epithelial cells that constitute the sebaceous glands, which are exocrine glands typically associated with hair follicles across most of the body’s skin surface. These cells undergo a unique form of programmed cell death, called holocrine secretion, to release sebum, a complex mixture of lipids including triglycerides, wax esters, and squalene, onto the skin surface. The function of sebocytes is heavily regulated by endocrine factors, most notably androgens, which control the rate of sebum production and secretion.