Lamellar Lipid Organization and Ceramide Composition in the Stratum Corneum of Patients with Atopic Eczema

Abstract

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Increase in short-chain ceramides correlates with an altered lipid organization and decreased barrier function in atopic eczema patients

“…In a very recent study, we reported the fi rst results on a very limited number of subjects, focusing on the lamellar phases and ceramide subclasses without examining the CER chain lengths ( 61 ). In addition, several studies focused on the (delayed or incomplete) lamellar body extrusion process in AE (62)(63)(64), possibly caused by reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor activation ( 65 ).…”

1-O-acylceramides are natural components of human and mouse epidermis

“…Due to their predicted physicochemical properties, 1-O-acylceramides might constitute building blocks of extracellular lipid lamellae and may contribute to their stability and correct lamella phase organization. Lamella phase organization has been shown to be disturbed in patients with atopic eczema ( 40 ). In spite of their relatively low abundance (5% of all esterifi ed Cers, or 2.3% of all Cers, which account roughly for about half of the total stratum corneum lipid species by weight) ( 41 ).…”

The Significance of Atopic Dermatitis

“…In addition to these structural abnormalities, it has been found that the total amount of epidermal ceramides is decreased [27] and changes in the lamellar lipid organization and in the fatty acids chains of the stratum corneum ceramides have been demonstrated [28] . Taken together, the many structural abnormalities of the epidermis in atopic dermatitis provide an explanation for the alteration of the barrier function believed to represent one of the primary events of this disease [29] .…”