Background: Senile pruritus is common, yet its etiology remains unknown. We examined the lipidomics profiles of skin surface lipids (SSL) in the elderly to better understand potential causes for senile pruritus. Methods:Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was used to assess skin barrier function. Ameliorated Kawashima itch scale were used to measure the pruritus score. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and multivariate data analysis were used to investigate SSL alternations. Results:The results showed that the senile pruritus have higher TEWL values than controls (13.13±4.28 versus 6.71±2.45, p< 0.01). LC-MS/MS showed significant differences in lipidomics and identified 81 species of SSL that differ between two groups. Compared to controls, the levels of ceramides, diacylcerols, fatty acids, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethar, phytosphingsines, sphingosines, diacylceryl-3-O-carboxyhydroxymethylcholine, diacylglyceryl trimethylhomoserine, unsaturated free fatty acids increased, whereas triacylglycerol decreased. CER-EOS, CER-NDS and CER-NS were positively correlated with TEWL values (p<0.05). Sphingomyelin, Cer-NP, Cer-AS, Cer-NDS, Cer-NS were positively correlated with pruritus severity scores, while Cer-BS, Cer-EODS, Cer-EOS, Cer-AP were negatively correlated. Conclusion:Our study indicated that the senile pruritus have impaired skin barrier function and altered SSL composition. Select SSL species identified in this study may be potential target for future studies on the pathogenesis of idiopathic senile pruritus

Abstract Background: Senile pruritus is common, yet its etiology remains unknown. Aging-associated skin barrier defects and skin surface lipid (SSL) alterations have been postulated to play important roles in its occurrence. In the present study, the lipidomic profiles of SSLs in elderly patients were examined to better understand the potential causes of senile pruritus. Methods: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was evaluated to assess the skin barrier function. The Ameliorated Kawashima Itch Scale score was used to measure the pruritus severity. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and multivariate data analysis were employed to investigate SSL alterations. Results: The results showed that senile pruritus patients had higher TEWL values than control subjects (13.13±4.28 versus 6.71±2.45, p<0.01). LC-MS/MS revealed significant differences in the lipidomic profiles and identified 81 species of SSLs that differed between the two groups. Compared with control subjects, senile pruritus patients had increased levels of ceramides (Cers), diacylglycerols, fatty acids, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phytosphingosines, sphingosines, diacylceryl-3-O-carboxyhydroxymethylcholine, diacylglyceryl trimethylhomoserine, and unsaturated free fatty acids, but decreased levels of triacylglycerol. Cer-EOS, Cer-NDS, and Cer-NS were positively correlated with TEWL value (p<0.05). Pruritus severity score was positively correlated with sphingomyelin, Cer-NP, Cer-AS, Cer-NDS, and Cer-NS, but negatively correlated with Cer-BS, Cer-EODS, Cer-EOS, and Cer-AP. Conclusions: The present study indicated that patients with senile pruritus have impaired skin barrier function and altered SSL composition. Certain SSL species identified in this study may be potential targets for future studies on the pathogenesis of senile pruritus.Trial registration: Peking University International Hospital (Number: YN2018QN04; date: January 2019).

No abstract

Background: Senile pruritus is common, yet its etiology remains unknown. Aging-associated skin barrier defects and skin surface lipids (SSL) alterations have been postulated to play important roles in its occurrence. In the present study, the lipidomic profiles of SSLs in elderly patients were examined to better understand the potential causes of senile pruritus. Methods: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was evaluated to assess the skin barrier function. The Ameliorated Kawashima Itch Scale score was used to measure the pruritus severity. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and multivariate data analysis were employed to investigate SSL alterations. Results: The results showed that senile pruritus patients had higher TEWL values than control subjects (13.13±4.28 versus 6.71±2.45, P<0.01). LC-MS/MS revealed significant differences in the lipidomic profiles and identified 81 species of SSLs that differed between the two groups. Compared with control subjects, senile pruritus patients had increased levels of ceramides (Cers), diacylglycerols, fatty acids, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phytosphingosines, sphingosines, diacylceryl-3-O-carboxyhydroxymethylcholine, diacylglyceryl trimethylhomoserine, and unsaturated free fatty acids, but decreased levels of triacylglycerol. Cer-EOS, Cer-NDS, and Cer-NS were positively correlated with TEWL value (P<0.05). Pruritus severity score was positively correlated with sphingomyelin, Cer-NP, Cer-AS, Cer-NDS, and Cer-NS, but negatively correlated with Cer-BS, Cer-EODS, Cer-EOS, and Cer-AP. Conclusions: The present study indicated that patients with senile pruritus have impaired skin barrier function and altered SSL composition. Certain SSL species identified in this study may be potential targets for future studies on the pathogenesis of senile pruritus.Trial registration: Peking University International Hospital (Number: YN2018QN04; date: January 2019).