Chain length of covalently bound ceramides correlates with skin barrier function in healthy subjects

The stratum corneum (SC), the outermost cellular layer of the epidermis, consists of several layers of corneocytes surrounded by multiple lipid layers known as the extracellular lipid lamellae. Ceramides (CERs), the major components of the lipid lamellae, play a pivotal role in epidermal permeability barrier function in combination with cholesterol and free fatty acids (FAs). Corneocytes also have a lipid monolayer called the corneocyte lipid envelope (CLE), in which ω-hydroxy CERs are covalently bound to structural proteins in the epidermal cornified envelope via an ester linkage.
Source: Journal of Dermatological Science - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research