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Fernandes E, Lopes CM, Lúcio M. Lipid Biomimetic Models as Simple Yet Complex Tools to Predict Skin Permeation and Drug-Membrane Biophysical Interactions. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:807. [PMID: 38931927 PMCID: PMC11207520 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The barrier function of the skin is primarily determined by its outermost layer, the Stratum Corneum (SC). The SC consists of corneocytes embedded in a lipid matrix composed mainly of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids in equimolar proportions and is organised in a complex lamellar structure with different periodicities and lateral packings. This matrix provides a diffusion pathway across the SC for bioactive compounds that are administered to the skin. In this regard, and as the skin administration route has grown in popularity, there has been an increase in the use of lipid mixtures that closely resemble the SC lipid matrix, either for a deeper biophysical understanding or for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes. This review focuses on a systematic analysis of the main outcomes of using lipid mixtures as SC lipid matrix models for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes. Thus, a methodical evaluation of the main outcomes based on the SC structure is performed, as well as the main recent developments in finding suitable new in vitro tools for permeation testing based on lipid models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduarda Fernandes
- CF-UM-UP—Centro de Física das Universidades do Minho e Porto, Departamento de Física, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Carla M. Lopes
- FFP-I3ID—Instituto de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento, FP-BHS—Biomedical and Health Sciences Research Unit, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, 4200–150 Porto, Portugal;
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, MedTech–Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marlene Lúcio
- CF-UM-UP—Centro de Física das Universidades do Minho e Porto, Departamento de Física, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- CBMA—Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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2
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Bouwstra JA, Nădăban A, Bras W, McCabe C, Bunge A, Gooris GS. The skin barrier: An extraordinary interface with an exceptional lipid organization. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 92:101252. [PMID: 37666282 PMCID: PMC10841493 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The barrier function of the skin is primarily located in the stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the skin. The SC is composed of dead cells with highly organized lipid lamellae in the intercellular space. As the lipid matrix forms the only continuous pathway, the lipids play an important role in the permeation of compounds through the SC. The main lipid classes are ceramides (CERs), cholesterol (CHOL) and free fatty acids (FFAs). Analysis of the SC lipid matrix is of crucial importance in understanding the skin barrier function, not only in healthy skin, but also in inflammatory skin diseases with an impaired skin barrier. In this review we provide i) a historical overview of the steps undertaken to obtain information on the lipid composition and organization in SC of healthy skin and inflammatory skin diseases, ii) information on the role CERs, CHOL and FFAs play in the lipid phase behavior of very complex lipid model systems and how this knowledge can be used to understand the deviation in lipid phase behavior in inflammatory skin diseases, iii) knowledge on the role of both, CER subclasses and chain length distribution, on lipid organization and lipid membrane permeability in complex and simple model systems with synthetic CERs, CHOL and FFAs, iv) similarity in lipid phase behavior in SC of different species and complex model systems, and vi) future directions in modulating lipid composition that is expected to improve the skin barrier in inflammatory skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joke A Bouwstra
- Division of Biotherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Andreea Nădăban
- Division of Biotherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Bras
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States of America
| | - Clare McCabe
- School of Engineering & Physical Science, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Annette Bunge
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America
| | - Gerrit S Gooris
- Division of Biotherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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3
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Fandrei F, Havrišák T, Opálka L, Engberg O, Smith A, Pullmannová P, Kučerka N, Ondrejčeková V, Demé B, Nováková L, Steinhart M, Vávrová K, Huster D. The Intriguing Molecular Dynamics of Cer[EOS] in Rigid Skin Barrier Lipid Layers Requires Improvement of the Model. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100356. [PMID: 36948272 PMCID: PMC10154977 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Omega-O-acyl ceramides such as 32-linoleoyloxydotriacontanoyl sphingosine (Cer[EOS]) are essential components of the lipid skin barrier, which protects our body from excessive water loss and the penetration of unwanted substances. These ceramides drive the lipid assembly to epidermal-specific long periodicity phase (LPP), structurally much different than conventional lipid bilayers. Here, we synthesized Cer[EOS] with selectively deuterated segments of the ultralong N-acyl chain or deuterated or 13C-labeled linoleic acid and studied their molecular behavior in a skin lipid model. Solid-state 2H NMR data revealed surprising molecular dynamics for the ultralong N-acyl chain of Cer[EOS] with increased isotropic motion towards the isotropic ester-bound linoleate. The sphingosine moiety of Cer[EOS] is also highly mobile at skin temperature, in stark contrast to the other LPP components, N-lignoceroyl sphingosine acyl, lignoceric acid and cholesterol, which are predominantly rigid. The dynamics of the linoleic chain is quantitatively described by distributions of correlation times and using dynamic detector analysis. These NMR results along with neutron diffraction data suggest an LPP structure with alternating fluid (sphingosine chain-rich), rigid (acyl chain-rich), isotropic (linoleate-rich), rigid (acyl-chain rich), and fluid layers (sphingosine chain-rich). Such an arrangement of the skin barrier lipids with rigid layers separated with two different dynamic "fillings" i) agrees well with ultrastructural data, ii) satisfies the need for simultaneous rigidity (to ensure low permeability) and fluidity (to ensure elasticity, accommodate enzymes or antimicrobial peptides), and iii) offers a straightforward way to remodel the lamellar body lipids into the final lipid barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Fandrei
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstr. 16-18, 04275 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tomáš Havrišák
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Opálka
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Oskar Engberg
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstr. 16-18, 04275 Leipzig, Germany
| | - AlbertA Smith
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstr. 16-18, 04275 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Petra Pullmannová
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Norbert Kučerka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojárov 10, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Ondrejčeková
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Bruno Demé
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, CS 20156, 38042 Grenoble, CEDEX 9, France
| | - Lucie Nováková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Miloš Steinhart
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Science in Prague, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Vávrová
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Huster
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstr. 16-18, 04275 Leipzig, Germany
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4
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Badhe Y, Schmitt T, Gupta R, Rai B, Neubert RH. Investigating the nanostructure of a CER[NP]/CER[AP]-based stratum corneum lipid matrix model: A combined neutron diffraction & molecular dynamics simulations approach. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA (BBA) - BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:184007. [PMID: 35863424 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The human skin provides a physiochemical and biological protective barrier due to the unique structure of its outermost layer known as the Stratum corneum. This layer consists of corneocytes and a multi-lamellar lipid matrix forming a composite, which is a major determining factor for the barrier function of the Stratum corneum. A substantiated understanding of this barrier is necessary, as controlled breaching or modulation of the same is also essential for various health and personal care applications such as topical drug delivery and cosmetics to a name few. In this study, we discuss the state-of-the-art of neutron diffraction techniques, using specifically deuterated lipids, combined with the information obtained from molecular models using molecular dynamics simulations, to understand the structure and barrier function of the Stratum corneum lipid matrix. As an example, the effect of ceramide concentration on a lipid lamella system consisting of CER[NP]/CER[AP]/Cholesterol/free fatty acid (deprotonated) is studied. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the combined approach of neutron diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations for effective analysis of the model systems created for the Stratum corneum lipid matrix. The optimization of force fields by comparison with experimental data is furthermore an important step in the direction of providing a predictive quality.
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5
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Pestryaev EM. Chain Heterogeneity in Simulated Polymer Melts: NMR Free Induction Decay and Absorption Line. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES A 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0965545x20060097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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6
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Pestryaev EM. Chain Heterogeneity in Simulated Polymer Melts: Segment Orientational Autocorrelation Function. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES A 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0965545x20060085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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7
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Pham QD, Carlström G, Lafon O, Sparr E, Topgaard D. Quantification of the amount of mobile components in intact stratum corneum with natural-abundance 13C solid-state NMR. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:6572-6583. [PMID: 32159206 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp00079e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The outermost layer of the skin is the stratum corneum (SC), which is mainly comprised of solid proteins and lipids. Minor amounts of mobile proteins and lipids are crucial for the macroscopic properties of the SC, including softness, elasticity and barrier function. Still this minor number of mobile components are not well characterized in terms of structure or amount. Conventional quantitative direct polarization (Q-DP) 13C solid-state NMR gives signal amplitudes proportional to concentrations, but fails to quantify the SC mobile components because of spectral overlap with the overwhelming signals from the solids. Spectral editing with the INEPT scheme suppresses the signals from solids, but also modulates the amplitudes of the mobile components depending on their values of the transverse relaxation times T2, scalar couplings JCH, and number of covalently bound hydrogens nH. This study describes a quantitative INEPT (Q-INEPT) method relying on systematic variation of the INEPT timing variables to estimate T2, JCH, nH, and amplitude for each of the resolved resonances from the mobile components. Q-INEPT is validated with a series of model systems containing molecules with different hydrophobicity and dynamics. For selected systems where Q-DP is applicable, the results of Q-INEPT and Q-DP are similar with respect to the linearity and uncertainty of the obtained molar ratios. Utilizing a reference compound with known concentration, we quantify the concentrations of mobile lipids and proteins within the mainly solid SC. By melting all lipids at high temperature, we obtain the total lipid concentration. These Q-INEPT results are the first steps towards a quantitative understanding of the relations between mobile component concentrations and SC macroscopic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quoc Dat Pham
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Department of Food Technology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Göran Carlström
- Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Olivier Lafon
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Artois, UMR 8181-UCCS-Unité de Catalyse et Chimie du Solide, F-59000 Lille, France and Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Emma Sparr
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniel Topgaard
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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8
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Berkers T, Boiten W, Absalah S, van Smeden J, Lavrijsen A, Bouwstra J. Compromising human skin in vivo and ex vivo to study skin barrier repair. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2019; 1864:1103-1108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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9
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Structural and barrier properties of the skin ceramide lipid bilayer: a molecular dynamics simulation study. J Mol Model 2019; 25:140. [PMID: 31041534 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-019-4008-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Skin provides excellent protection against the harsh external environment and foreign substances. The lipid matrix of the stratum corneum, which contains various kinds of ceramides, plays a major role in the barrier function of the skin. Here we report a study of the effects of ceramide type on the structural and transport properties of ceramide bilayers using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Specifically, the effects of headgroup chemistry (number and positions of hydroxyl groups) and tail structure (unsaturation of the sphingoid moiety) on the structural and transport properties of various ceramide bilayers at 310 K were analyzed. Theoretical results for structural properties such as area per lipid, bilayer thickness, lateral arrangement, order parameter, and hydrogen bonding are reported here and compared with corresponding experimental data. Our study revealed that the presence of a double bond disrupts the bilayer packing, which leads to a low area compressibility modulus, a large area per lipid, and low bilayer thickness. Furthermore, the effect of structural changes on water permeation was studied using steered MD simulations. Water permeation was found to be influenced by headgroup polarity, chain packing, and the ability of the water to hydrogen bond with the ceramides. The molecular-level information obtained from the current study should aid the design of mixed bilayer systems with desired properties and provide the basis for the development of higher order coarse-grained models.
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10
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Pestryaev EM. Oscillating Free Induction Decay in Polymer Systems: Theoretical Analysis. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES A 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s0965545x18040090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Abstract
AbstractThe outer layer of the skin, stratum corneum (SC) is an efficient transport barrier and it tolerates mechanical deformation. At physiological conditions, the majority of SC lipids are solid, while the presence of a small amount of fluid lipids is considered crucial for SC barrier and material properties. Here we use solid-state and diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance to characterize the composition and molecular dynamics of the fluid lipid fraction in SC model lipids, focusing on the role of the essential SC lipid CER EOS, which is a ceramide esterified omega-hydroxy sphingosine linoleate with very long chain. We show that both rigid and mobile structures are present within the same CER EOS molecule, and that the linoleate segments undergo fast isotropic reorientation while exhibiting extraordinarily slow self-diffusion. The characterization of this unusual self-assembly in SC lipids provides deepened insight into the molecular arrangement in the SC extracellular lipid matrix and the role of CER EOS linoleate in the healthy and diseased skin.
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12
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Lundborg M, Narangifard A, Wennberg CL, Lindahl E, Daneholt B, Norlén L. Human skin barrier structure and function analyzed by cryo-EM and molecular dynamics simulation. J Struct Biol 2018; 203:149-161. [PMID: 29702212 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In the present study we have analyzed the molecular structure and function of the human skin's permeability barrier using molecular dynamics simulation validated against cryo-electron microscopy data from near native skin. The skin's barrier capacity is located to an intercellular lipid structure embedding the cells of the superficial most layer of skin - the stratum corneum. According to the splayed bilayer model (Iwai et al., 2012) the lipid structure is organized as stacked bilayers of ceramides in a splayed chain conformation with cholesterol associated with the ceramide sphingoid moiety and free fatty acids associated with the ceramide fatty acid moiety. However, knowledge about the lipid structure's detailed molecular organization, and the roles of its different lipid constituents, remains circumstantial. Starting from a molecular dynamics model based on the splayed bilayer model, we have, by stepwise structural and compositional modifications, arrived at a thermodynamically stable molecular dynamics model expressing simulated electron microscopy patterns matching original cryo-electron microscopy patterns from skin extremely closely. Strikingly, the closer the individual molecular dynamics models' lipid composition was to that reported in human stratum corneum, the better was the match between the models' simulated electron microscopy patterns and the original cryo-electron microscopy patterns. Moreover, the closest-matching model's calculated water permeability and thermotropic behaviour were found compatible with that of human skin. The new model may facilitate more advanced physics-based skin permeability predictions of drugs and toxicants. The proposed procedure for molecular dynamics based analysis of cellular cryo-electron microscopy data might be applied to other biomolecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Narangifard
- ERCO Pharma AB, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden; Department of Medicine, Solna (MedS), Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Christian L Wennberg
- ERCO Pharma AB, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden; Swedish eScience Research Center, Department of Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Lindahl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Swedish eScience Research Center, Department of Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bertil Daneholt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Norlén
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Dermatology Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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13
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Kováčik A, Vogel A, Adler J, Pullmannová P, Vávrová K, Huster D. Probing the role of ceramide hydroxylation in skin barrier lipid models by 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1860:1162-1170. [PMID: 29408487 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we studied model stratum corneum lipid mixtures composed of the hydroxylated skin ceramides N-lignoceroyl 6-hydroxysphingosine (Cer[NH]) and α-hydroxylignoceroyl phytosphingosine (Cer[AP]). Two model skin lipid mixtures of the composition Cer[NH] or Cer[AP], N-lignoceroyl sphingosine (Cer[NS]), lignoceric acid (C24:0) and cholesterol in a 0.5:0.5:1:1 molar ratio were compared. Model membranes were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy at temperatures from 25 °C to 80 °C. Each component of the model mixture was specifically deuterated for selective detection by 2H NMR. Thus, the exact phase composition of the mixture at varying temperatures could be quantified. Moreover, using X-ray powder diffraction we investigated the lamellar phase formation. From the solid-state NMR and DSC studies, we found that both hydroxylated Cer[NH] and Cer[AP] exhibit a similar phase behavior. At physiological skin temperature of 32 °C, the lipids form a crystalline (orthorhombic) phase. With increasing temperature, most of the lipids become fluid and form a liquid-crystalline phase, which converts to the isotropic phase at higher temperatures (65-80 °C). Interestingly, lignoceric acid in the Cer[NH]-containing mixture has a tendency to form two types of fluid phases at 65 °C. This tendency was also observed in Cer[AP]-containing membranes at 80 °C. While Cer[AP]-containing lipid models formed a short periodicity phase featuring a repeat spacing of d = 5.4 nm, in the Cer[NH]-based model skin lipid membranes, the formation of unusual long periodicity phase with a repeat spacing of d = 10.7 nm was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Kováčik
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany; Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander Vogel
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Juliane Adler
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Petra Pullmannová
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Vávrová
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Daniel Huster
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.
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14
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Pappas A, Kendall AC, Brownbridge LC, Batchvarova N, Nicolaou A. Seasonal changes in epidermal ceramides are linked to impaired barrier function in acne patients. Exp Dermatol 2018; 27:833-836. [DOI: 10.1111/exd.13499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandra C. Kendall
- Laboratory for Lipidomics and Lipid Biology; Division of Pharmacy and Optometry; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; School of Health Sciences; The University of Manchester; Manchester Academic Health Science Centre; Manchester UK
| | - Luke C. Brownbridge
- Laboratory for Lipidomics and Lipid Biology; Division of Pharmacy and Optometry; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; School of Health Sciences; The University of Manchester; Manchester Academic Health Science Centre; Manchester UK
| | | | - Anna Nicolaou
- Laboratory for Lipidomics and Lipid Biology; Division of Pharmacy and Optometry; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; School of Health Sciences; The University of Manchester; Manchester Academic Health Science Centre; Manchester UK
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15
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Boiten WA, Berkers T, Absalah S, van Smeden J, Lavrijsen APM, Bouwstra JA. Applying a vernix caseosa based formulation accelerates skin barrier repair by modulating lipid biosynthesis. J Lipid Res 2017; 59:250-260. [PMID: 29217624 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m079186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Restoring the lipid homeostasis of the stratum corneum (SC) is a common strategy to enhance skin barrier function. Here, we used a ceramide containing vernix caseosa (VC)-based formulation and were able to accelerate barrier recovery in healthy volunteers. The recovery was examined over 16 days by monitoring trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) after barrier disruption by tape-stripping. Four skin sites were used to examine the effects of both treatment and barrier recovery. After 16 days, samples were harvested at these sites to examine the SC ceramide composition and lipid organization. Changes in ceramide profiles were identified using principal component analysis. After barrier recovery, the untreated sites showed increased levels of ceramide subclass AS and ceramides with a 34 total carbon-atom chain length, while the mean ceramide chain length was reduced. These changes were diminished by treatment with the studied formulation, which concurrently increased the formulated ceramides. Correlations were observed between SC lipid composition, lipid organization, and TEWL, and changes in the ceramide subclass composition suggest changes in the ceramide biosynthesis. These results suggest that VC-based formulations enhance skin barrier recovery and are attractive candidates to treat skin disorders with impaired barrier properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter A Boiten
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tineke Berkers
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Samira Absalah
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen van Smeden
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adriana P M Lavrijsen
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Joke A Bouwstra
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Abstract
The skin barrier, which is essential for human survival on dry land, is located in the uppermost skin layer, the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum consists of corneocytes surrounded by multilamellar lipid membranes that prevent excessive water loss from the body and entrance of undesired substances from the environment. To ensure this protective function, the composition and organization of the lipid membranes is highly specialized. The major skin barrier lipids are ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol in an approximately equimolar ratio. With hundreds of molecular species of ceramide, skin barrier lipids are a highly complex mixture that complicate the investigation of its behaviour. In this minireview, the structures of the major skin barrier lipids, formation of the stratum corneum lipid membranes and their molecular organization are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Vávrová
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Skin Barrier Research Group, Hradec Králové , Czech Republic
| | - A. Kováčik
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Skin Barrier Research Group, Hradec Králové , Czech Republic
| | - L. Opálka
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Skin Barrier Research Group, Hradec Králové , Czech Republic
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Molugu TR, Lee S, Brown MF. Concepts and Methods of Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy Applied to Biomembranes. Chem Rev 2017; 117:12087-12132. [PMID: 28906107 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Concepts of solid-state NMR spectroscopy and applications to fluid membranes are reviewed in this paper. Membrane lipids with 2H-labeled acyl chains or polar head groups are studied using 2H NMR to yield knowledge of their atomistic structures in relation to equilibrium properties. This review demonstrates the principles and applications of solid-state NMR by unifying dipolar and quadrupolar interactions and highlights the unique features offered by solid-state 2H NMR with experimental illustrations. For randomly oriented multilamellar lipids or aligned membranes, solid-state 2H NMR enables direct measurement of residual quadrupolar couplings (RQCs) due to individual C-2H-labeled segments. The distribution of RQC values gives nearly complete profiles of the segmental order parameters SCD(i) as a function of acyl segment position (i). Alternatively, one can measure residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) for natural abundance lipid samples to obtain segmental SCH order parameters. A theoretical mean-torque model provides acyl-packing profiles representing the cumulative chain extension along the normal to the aqueous interface. Equilibrium structural properties of fluid bilayers and various thermodynamic quantities can then be calculated, which describe the interactions with cholesterol, detergents, peptides, and integral membrane proteins and formation of lipid rafts. One can also obtain direct information for membrane-bound peptides or proteins by measuring RDCs using magic-angle spinning (MAS) in combination with dipolar recoupling methods. Solid-state NMR methods have been extensively applied to characterize model membranes and membrane-bound peptides and proteins, giving unique information on their conformations, orientations, and interactions in the natural liquid-crystalline state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trivikram R Molugu
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and ‡Department of Physics, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Soohyun Lee
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and ‡Department of Physics, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Michael F Brown
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and ‡Department of Physics, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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18
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Stahlberg S, Eichner A, Sonnenberger S, Kováčik A, Lange S, Schmitt T, Demé B, Hauß T, Dobner B, Neubert RHH, Huster D. Influence of a Novel Dimeric Ceramide Molecule on the Nanostructure and Thermotropic Phase Behavior of a Stratum Corneum Model Mixture. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:9211-9221. [PMID: 28819979 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b01227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The stratum corneum (SC) is the outermost layer of the skin and is composed of a multilayered assembly of mostly ceramids (Cer), free fatty acids, cholesterol (Chol), and cholesterol sulfate (Chol-S). Because of the tight packing of these lipids, the SC features unique barrier properties defending the skin from environmental influences. Under pathological conditions, where the skin barrier function is compromised, topical application of molecules that rigidify the SC may lead to a restored barrier function. To this end, molecules are required that incorporate into the SC and bring back the original rigidity of the skin barrier. Here, we investigated the influence of a novel dimeric ceramide (dim-Cer) molecule designed to feature a long, rigid hydrocarbon chain ideally suited to forming an orthorhombic lipid phase. The influence of this molecules on the thermotropic phase behavior of a SC mixture consisting of Cer[AP18] (55 wt %), cholesterol (Chol, 25 wt %), steric acid (SA, 15 wt %), and cholesterol sulfate (Chol-S, 5 wt %) was studied using a combination of neutron diffraction and 2H NMR spectroscopy. These methods provide detailed insights into the packing properties of the lipids in the SC model mixture. Dim-Cer remains in an all-trans state of the membrane-spanning lipid chain at all investigated temperatures, but the influence on the phase behavior of the other lipids in the mixture is marginal. Biophysical experiments are complemented by permeability measurements in model membranes and human skin. The latter, however, indicates that dim-Cer only partially provides the desired effect on membrane permeability, necessitating further optimization of its structure for medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Stahlberg
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University , Leipzig, Germany
| | - Adina Eichner
- Institute of Pharmacy and #Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stefan Sonnenberger
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University , Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy and #Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Andrej Kováčik
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University , Leipzig, Germany
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University , Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Stefan Lange
- Institute of Pharmacy and #Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Institute of Pharmacy and #Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie , Berlin, Germany
| | - Bruno Demé
- Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL) , Grenoble, France
| | - Thomas Hauß
- Institute of Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie , Berlin, Germany
| | - Bodo Dobner
- Institute of Pharmacy and #Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Reinhard H H Neubert
- Institute of Pharmacy and #Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Daniel Huster
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University , Leipzig, Germany
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19
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Influence of the penetration enhancer isopropyl myristate on stratum corneum lipid model membranes revealed by neutron diffraction and 2 H NMR experiments. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:745-755. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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20
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Sonnenberger S, Eichner A, Hauß T, Schroeter A, Neubert RH, Dobner B. Synthesis of specifically deuterated ceramide [AP]-C18 and its biophysical characterization using neutron diffraction. Chem Phys Lipids 2017; 204:15-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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21
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Kováčik A, Šilarová M, Pullmannová P, Maixner J, Vávrová K. Effects of 6-Hydroxyceramides on the Thermotropic Phase Behavior and Permeability of Model Skin Lipid Membranes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:2890-2899. [PMID: 28230380 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Ceramides (Cer) based on 6-hydroxysphingosine are important components of the human skin barrier, the stratum corneum. Although diminished concentrations of 6-hydroxyCer have been detected in skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, our knowledge on these unusual sphingolipids, which have only been found in the skin, is limited. In this work, we investigate the biophysical behavior of N-lignoceroyl-6-hydroxysphingosine (Cer NH) in multilamellar lipid membranes composed of Cer/free fatty acids (FFAs) (C16-C24)/cholesterol/cholesteryl sulfate. To probe the Cer structure-activity relationships, we compared Cer NH membranes with membranes containing Cer with sphingosine (Cer NS), dihydrosphingosine, and phytosphingosine (Cer NP), all with the same acyl chain length (C24). Compared with Cer NS, 6-hydroxylation of Cer not only increased membrane water loss and permeability in a lipophilic model compound but also dramatically increased the membrane opposition to electrical current, which is proportional to the flux of ions. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that Cer hydroxylation (in either Cer NH or Cer NP) increased the main transition temperature of the membrane but prevented good Cer mixing with FFAs. X-ray powder diffraction showed not only lamellar phases with shorter periodicity upon Cer hydroxylation but also the formation of an unusually long periodicity phase (d = 10.6 nm) in Cer NH-containing membranes. Thus, 6-hydroxyCer behaves differently from sphingosine- and phytosphingosine-based Cer. In particular, the ability to form a long-periodicity lamellar phase and highly limited permeability to ions indicate the manner in which 6-hydroxylated Cer contribute to the skin barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Kováčik
- Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University , 500 05 Prague, Hradec Kralove
| | - Michaela Šilarová
- Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University , 500 05 Prague, Hradec Kralove
| | - Petra Pullmannová
- Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University , 500 05 Prague, Hradec Kralove
| | - Jaroslav Maixner
- University of Chemistry and Technology , 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Vávrová
- Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University , 500 05 Prague, Hradec Kralove
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22
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Schroeter A, Stahlberg S, Školová B, Sonnenberger S, Eichner A, Huster D, Vávrová K, Hauß T, Dobner B, Neubert RHH, Vogel A. Phase separation in ceramide[NP] containing lipid model membranes: neutron diffraction and solid-state NMR. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:2107-2119. [PMID: 28225091 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm02356h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin and protects the organism against external influences as well as water loss. It consists of corneocytes embedded in a mixture of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol in a molar ratio of roughly 1 : 1 : 1. The unique structural and compositional arrangement of these stratum corneum lipids is responsible for the skin barrier properties. Many studies investigated the organization of these barrier lipids and, in particular, the exact conformation of ceramides. However, so far no consensus has been reached. In this study, we investigate a model system comprised of N-(non-hydroxy-tetracosanoyl)-phytosphingosine/cholesterol/tetracosanoic acid (CER[NP]-C24/CHOL/TA) at a 1 : 1 : 1 molar ratio using neutron diffraction and 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy at temperatures from 25 °C to 80 °C. Deuterated variants of all three lipid components of the model system were used to enable their separate investigation in the NMR spectra and quantification of the amount of molecules in each phase. Neutron scattering experiments show the coexistence of two lipid phases at low temperatures with repeat spacings of 54.2 Å and 43.0 Å at a physiological skin temperature of 32 °C. They appear to be indistinguishable in the 2H NMR spectra as both phases are crystalline and ceramide molecules do not rotate around their long axis on a microsecond timescale. The evolution of these phases upon heating is followed and with increasing temperature fluid and even isotropically mobile molecules are observed. A model of the organization of the lamellar phases is proposed in which the thicker phase consists of CER[NP]-C24 in a hairpin conformation mixed with CHOL and TA, while the phase with a repeat spacing of 43.0 Å contains CER[NP]-C24 in a V-shape conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annett Schroeter
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Sören Stahlberg
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Barbora Školová
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany. and Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Stefan Sonnenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Adina Eichner
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Daniel Huster
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Kateřina Vávrová
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Thomas Hauß
- Institute of Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bodo Dobner
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Reinhard H H Neubert
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany and Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alexander Vogel
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany.
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Školová B, Kováčik A, Tesař O, Opálka L, Vávrová K. Phytosphingosine, sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine ceramides in model skin lipid membranes: permeability and biophysics. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:824-834. [PMID: 28109750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ceramides based on phytosphingosine, sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine are essential constituents of the skin lipid barrier that protects the body from excessive water loss. The roles of the individual ceramide subclasses in regulating skin permeability and the reasons for C4-hydroxylation of these sphingolipids are not completely understood. We investigated the chain length-dependent effects of dihydroceramides, sphingosine ceramides (with C4-unsaturation) and phytoceramides (with C4-hydroxyl) on the permeability, lipid organization and thermotropic behavior of model stratum corneum lipid membranes composed of ceramide/lignoceric acid/cholesterol/cholesteryl sulfate. Phytoceramides with very long C24 acyl chains increased the permeability of the model lipid membranes compared to dihydroceramides or sphingosine ceramides with the same chain lengths. Either unsaturation or C4-hydroxylation of dihydroceramides induced chain length-dependent increases in membrane permeability. Infrared spectroscopy showed that C4-hydroxylation of the sphingoid base decreased the relative ratio of orthorhombic chain packing in the membrane and lowered the miscibility of C24 phytoceramide with lignoceric acid. The phase separation in phytoceramide membranes was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. In contrast, phytoceramides formed strong hydrogen bonds and highly thermostable domains. Thus, the large heterogeneity in ceramide structures and in their aggregation mechanisms may confer resistance towards the heterogeneous external stressors that are constantly faced by the skin barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Školová
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Andrej Kováčik
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Tesař
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Opálka
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Vávrová
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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