Study on the Relationship between Epidermal Barrier Function and Cornified Envelope (CE)-Bound Lipids

The importance of cornified envelope (CE)-bound lipids to epidermal barrier function is increasingly being recognized. In the present study, we intentionally damaged the cornified layer of hairless mice by ultraviolet irradiation and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment, and assessed the changes in epidermal barrier function by measuring Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL). We also measured changes in the amount of CE-bound lipids using thin layer chromatography (TLC). The results showed that both treatments increased TEWL and decreased CE-bound lipids (omega-hydroxy cerami de and omega-hydroxy acid). In addition, investigation of the chronological changes in TEWL revealed an inverse relationship between TEWL and CE-bound lipids, and a correlation between CE-bound lipids and epidermal barrier function. We then measured the amount of CE-bound lipids in the cheek and the medial side of the upper arm in humans. The results showed that because the cheek receives external stimulation on a daily basis, the amount of CE-bound lipids was significantly lower, while the level of TEWL was higher. These observations, together with those from the animal study, indicate that CE-bound lipids are related to epidermal barrier function.