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KMID : 0984920010030010011
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Journal of Skin Barrier Research
2001 Volume.3 No. 1 p.11 ~ p.17
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Glucosylceramide Metabolism and Barrier Function
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Takagi Yutaka
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Abstract
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The intercellular lipids of stratum corneum are critical for the epidermal permeability of barrier. These lipids are highly enriched in ceramides which, account for almost a half of the overall total. These ceramaides are converted from
glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins by β-glucocerebrosidase (GlcCer’ase) or sphingomyelinase (SMase), respectively during the final stage of epidermal differentiation. We have found that GlcCer’ ase concentrated within the extracelluar spaces in the inner stratum corneum and converted glucosylceramide to ceramide to form the lamellar bilayer. The inhibition of GlcCer’ase diminishes epidermal permeability barrier function by altering the level of epidermal lipids. From this data, the glucosylceramide hydrolysis is important in the formation of the epidermal permeability barrier. Additionally, we found that the inhibition of glucosulation of ceramides by D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol(PDMP:inhibitor of glucosyltransferare) or deglucosylation of glucosylceramides by bromoconduritol-B-epoxide(BrCBE: inhibitor of GlcCer’ase) disturbed the acylation of ceramides in murine epidermal organ culture system. This result suggests that glucosyation of ceramide is essential for the ω-acylation of ceramides, which is essential for epidermal barrier function. Recently we have encountered that eucalyptus extract can stimulate the synthesis of ceramides in the epidermis. By the topical application of this extract on the barrier-disrupted skin induced by acetone/ether treatment, barrier recovery was enhanced accompanied by an increase in the level of ceramides in the stratum corneum. These findings suggest that stimulstion of ceramide synthesis is potentially useful in improving the barrier disrupted skin symptoms exhibiting ceramide deficiency.
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KEYWORD
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glucosylceramide, ceramide, barrier function
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