A reconstructed human epidermal keratinization culture model to characterize ceramide metabolism in the stratum corneum.
Summary of "A reconstructed human epidermal keratinization culture model to characterize ceramide metabolism in the stratum corneum."
To examine factors that regulate ceramide production during keratinization of the human stratum corneum (SC), we developed a reconstructed human epidermal keratinization model in which a fresh layer of SC is newly formed within 1 week. Addition of the UDP-glucose: ceramide glucosyltransferase inhibitor 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol significantly diminished SC ceramide levels (expressed as µg/mg protein) with decreased glucosylceramide levels. Desipramine hydrochloride, an inhibitor of sphingomyelinase, also significantly reduced SC ceramide levels. Similarly, conduritol B epoxide, an inhibitor of β-glucocerebrosidase, significantly down-regulated SC ceramide levels and significantly increased glucosylceramide levels. These results indicate the reliability of this model to elucidate ceramide synthesis regulating factors. Using this model, we assessed the effects of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1α (IL-1α), several bioactive sphingolipids and all-trans retinoic acid (RA) on ceramide levels in the SC. Whereas treatment with IL-1α (at 10 nM) significantly down-regulated ceramide levels, treatment with sphingosylphosphorylcholine (at 50 µM) or sphingosine-1-phosphate (at 10 or 20 µM) distinctly up-regulated ceramide levels. Interestingly, RA (at low as 10 nM) significantly up-regulated ceramide levels without affecting the formation of the SC or levels of keratinization-related proteins in the epidermis. The increased levels of ceramide were accompanied by a significantly increased secretion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as well as by a significantly down-regulated expression of acid-ceramidase at both the gene and protein levels. Taken together, our results underscore the superiority of this reconstructed human epidermal keratinization model to analyze factors that regulate ceramide synthesis, especially in human SC.
Affiliation
School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Technology, 1404-1 Katakura, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0982, Japan.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Archives of dermatological research
ISSN: 1432-069X
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22451348
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00403-012-1232-6
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Epidermal Growth Factor
A 6-kDa polypeptide growth factor initially discovered in mouse submaxillary glands. Human epidermal growth factor was originally isolated from urine based on its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and called urogastrone. EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR exerts a wide variety of biological effects including the promotion of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal and epithelial cells.
Models, Statistical
Statistical formulations or analyses which, when applied to data and found to fit the data, are then used to verify the assumptions and parameters used in the analysis. Examples of statistical models are the linear model, binomial model, polynomial model, two-parameter model, etc.
Spheroids, Cellular
Spherical, heterogeneous aggregates of proliferating, quiescent, and necrotic cells in culture that retain three-dimensional architecture and tissue-specific functions. The ability to form spheroids is a characteristic trait of CULTURED TUMOR CELLS derived from solid TUMORS. Cells from normal tissues can also form spheroids. They represent an in-vitro model for studies of the biology of both normal and malignant cells. (From Bjerkvig, Spheroid Culture in Cancer Research, 1992, p4)
Exfoliatins
Protein exotoxins from Staphylococcus aureus, phage type II, which cause epidermal necrolysis. They are proteins with a molecular weight of 26,000 to 32,000. They cause a condition variously called scaled skin, Lyell or Ritter syndrome, epidermal exfoliative disease, toxic epidermal necrolysis, etc.
Trihexosylceramides
Glycosphingolipids which contain as their polar head group a trisaccharide (galactose-galactose-glucose) moiety bound in glycosidic linkage to the hydroxyl group of ceramide. Their accumulation in tissue, due to a defect in ceramide trihexosidase, is the cause of angiokeratoma corporis diffusum (FABRY DISEASE).
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