Lipoxygenases Mediate the Effect of Essential Fatty Acid in Skin Barrier Formation

A barrier to water loss is vital to maintaining life on dry land. Formation of the mammalian skin barrier requires both the essential fatty acid linoleate and the two lipoxygenases 12R-lipoxygenase (12R-LOX) and epidermal lipoxygenase-3 (eLOX3), although their roles are poorly understood. Linoleate occurs in O-linoleoyl-ω-hydroxyceramide, which, after hydrolysis of the linoleate moiety, is covalently attached to protein via the free ω-hydroxyl of the ceramide, forming the corneocyte lipid envelope, a scaffold between lipid and protein that helps seal the barrier. Here we show using HPLC-UV, LC-MS, GC-MS, and 1H NMR that O-linoleoyl-ω-hydroxyceramide is oxygenated in a regio- and stereospecific fashion by the consecutive actions of 12R-LOX and eLOX3 and that these products occur naturally in pig and mouse epidermis. 12R-LOX forms 9R-hydroperoxy-linoleoyl-ω-hydroxyceramide, further converted by eLOX3 to specific epoxyalcohol (9R,10R-trans-epoxy-11E-13R-hydroxy) and 9-keto-10E,12Z esters of the ceramide; an epoxy-ketone derivative (9R,10R-trans-epoxy-11E-13-keto) is the most prominent oxidized ceramide in mouse skin. These products are absent in 12R-LOX-deficient mice, which crucially display a near total absence of protein-bound ω-hydroxyceramides and of the corneocyte lipid envelope and die shortly after birth from transepidermal water loss. We conclude that oxygenation of O-linoleoyl-ω-hydroxyceramide is required to facilitate the ester hydrolysis and allow bonding of the ω-hydroxyceramide to protein, providing a coherent explanation for the roles of multiple components in epidermal barrier function. Our study uncovers a hitherto unknown biochemical pathway in which the enzymic oxygenation of ceramides is involved in building a crucial structure of the epidermal barrier.

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Changes in transepidermal water loss and the composition of epidermal lecithin after applications of pure fatty acid triglycerides to the skin of essential fatty acid-deficient rats

British Journal of Dermatology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2133.1976.tb07012.x ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 255-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

P.J. HARTOP ◽

C. PROTTEY

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Essential Fatty Acid ◽

Water Loss ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Pure Fatty Acid ◽

Essential Fatty Acid Deficient ◽

Fatty Acid Triglycerides

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Effects of essential fatty acid deficiency on epidermal O-acylsphingolipids and transepidermal water loss in young pigs

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Lipids and Lipid Metabolism ◽

10.1016/0005-2760(87)90018-x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 921 (2) ◽

pp. 191-197 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Jeffrey L. Melton ◽

Philip W. Wertz ◽

Donald C. Swartzendruber ◽

Donald T. Downing

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Essential Fatty Acid ◽

Water Loss ◽

Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Young Pigs ◽

Acid Deficiency ◽

Fatty Acid Deficiency

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Skin Barrier Function in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis: Transepidermal Water Loss and Temperature as Useful Tools to Assess Disease Severity

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10020359 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 359 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Trinidad Montero-Vilchez ◽

María-Victoria Segura-Fernández-Nogueras ◽

Isabel Pérez-Rodríguez ◽

Miguel Soler-Gongora ◽

Antonio Martinez-Lopez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Water Loss ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Psoriatic Skin ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Healthy Controls

Multiple diagnostic tools are used to evaluate psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) severity, but most of them are based on subjective components. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and temperature are skin barrier function parameters that can be objectively measured and could help clinicians to evaluate disease severity accurately. Thus, the aims of this study are: (1) to compare skin barrier function between healthy skin, psoriatic skin and AD skin; and (2) to assess if skin barrier function parameters could predict disease severity. A cross-sectional study was designed, and epidermal barrier function parameters were measured. The study included 314 participants: 157 healthy individuals, 92 psoriatic patients, and 65 atopic dermatitis patients. TEWL was significantly higher, while stratum corneum hydration (SCH) (8.71 vs. 38.43 vs. 44.39 Arbitrary Units (AU)) was lower at psoriatic plaques than at uninvolved psoriatic skin and healthy controls. Patients with both TEWL > 13.85 g·m−2h−1 and temperature > 30.85 °C presented a moderate/severe psoriasis (psoriasis area severity index (PASI) ≥ 7), with a specificity of 76.3%. TEWL (28.68 vs. 13.15 vs. 11.60 g·m−2 h−1) and temperature were significantly higher, while SCH (25.20 vs. 40.95 vs. 50.73 AU) was lower at AD eczematous lesions than uninvolved AD skin and healthy controls. Patients with a temperature > 31.75 °C presented a moderate/severe AD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) ≥ 37) with a sensitivity of 81.8%. In conclusion, temperature and TEWL values may help clinicians to determine disease severity and select patients who need intensive treatment.

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Transepidermal Water Loss Measurements for Assessing Skin Barrier Functions During In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption Studies

Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences - Percutaneous Absorption ◽

10.1201/9780849359033.ch36 ◽

2005 ◽

pp. 497-507

Author(s):

Avinash Nangia ◽

Bret Berner ◽

Howard Maibach

Keyword(s):

Water Loss ◽

Percutaneous Absorption ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Barrier Functions ◽

Absorption Studies ◽

In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption

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Beneficial effects of oral supplementation with ferulic acid, a plant phenolic compound, on the human skin barrier in healthy men

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000699 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Atsushi Suzuki ◽

Tomoko Nomura ◽

Hiroko Jokura ◽

Naoya Kitamura ◽

Akihiko Fujii ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ferulic Acid ◽

Stratum Corneum ◽

Water Loss ◽

Nervous Activity ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Sympathetic Nervous Activity ◽

Healthy Men ◽

Stratum Corneum Hydration ◽

Sympathetic Nervous

Abstract. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phytochemical compound with various physiologic functions. To clarify the effect of FA intake on skin barrier function (SBF), we conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind pilot trial. Sixteen healthy subjects were divided into 2 groups (n = 8) and ingested capsules containing either FA (200 mg) or placebo daily for 2 weeks. Two measures of SBF, transepidermal water loss and stratum corneum hydration, were assessed before and 2 weeks after the start of the study. Autonomic nervous activity, which is suggested to be related to SBF, was also measured. Compared with the values obtained before the start of the study, FA intake significantly reduced transepidermal water loss (from 6.1 ± 1.1 to 4.8 ± 1.0 g/m2/h, p = 0.005) and increased stratum corneum hydration (from 30.1 ± 7.6 to 32.3 ± 8.1 a.u., p = 0.027) after 2 weeks. In addition, the amount change in sympathetic nervous activity was significantly reduced after ingesting the FA capsules compared with the placebo capsules (−0.7 ± 1.6 vs. 1.1 ± 1.4, p = 0.035). These findings suggest that FA supplementation decreases sympathetic nervous activity and strengthens SBF in healthy men.

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Transepidermal Water Loss Value Comparison Between Tengkawang and Durian Seed Oil Lotion

Jurnal Natur Indonesia ◽

10.31258/jnat.18.1.20-30 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 20

Author(s):

Irma Ramadhani Febriaty ◽

Thamrin Usman ◽

Andi Hairil Alimuddin

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Free Fatty Acid ◽

Water Loss ◽

Seed Oil ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Skin Condition ◽

Acid Number ◽

Water Evaporation ◽

Important Health ◽

Durian Seed

Body epidermis has an important health function to prevent body dehydration. This research aims to compare Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) values between durian seed oil and tengkawang oil. Skin that had been applied with tengkawang oil and durian seed oil lotion were tested for irritation and TEWL values. The tengkawang oil had an acid number of 17 g/mol and contained 8.54 % free fatty acid, while the durian seed oil had an acid number of 6.34 g/mol and contained 2.89 % free fatty acid. Irritation testing was done using lotion containing 100 % of each oil. TEWL analysis on skin applied with the tengkawang oil lotion after 1 hour showed that the lotion could reduce epidermal water evaporation by 35.23 % compared to the skin condition before treatment. Epidermal water evaporation reduction at the second, third and fourth hours after the tengkawang oil lotion application was 31.33 %, 33.93 % and 27.9 %, respectively. TEWL analysis on skin applied with the durian seed oil lotion after 1 hour showed that the lotion could reduce epidermal water evaporation by 11.34 % compared to the skin condition before treatment. Epidermal water evaporation was reduced 14.64 %, 10.53 % and 2.99 % at the second, third and fourth hours after application of the durian seed oil. Based on these results, it can be concluded that tengkawang oil gives better TEWL values compared to durian seed oil.

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Effects of Cast Immobilisation on Skin Barrier Function

Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore ◽

10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2019170 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 354-359

Author(s):

Chin Yee Woo ◽

Mark JA Koh ◽

Winnie KY Fung ◽

Cheri SH Chan ◽

Chong Bing Chua ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stratum Corneum ◽

Water Loss ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Skin Irritation ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Hair Density ◽

Cast Immobilisation ◽

Volar Surface

Introduction: Cast immobilisation remains the mainstay of treatment for various fractures in paediatric patients, yet patients commonly complain of skin irritation and discomfort. This study aimed to perform a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the effects of cast immobilisation on the skin of children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: Patients aged 6–17 years of age with a fracture treated in a fiberglass short-arm or short-leg cast were recruited. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum (SC) hydration, hair density and presence of any skin signs were assessed before and after cast. Patients were required to complete a weekly questionnaire to rate itch, malodour, warmth, and dampness of the skin under the cast. Results: A total of 60 subjects completed the study. Thirty-six patients received a short-arm cast; 24 received a short-leg cast. Upon cast removal, TEWL was significantly increased on the volar surface of the arms and legs (P <0.05), and the dorsal surface of the arm (P <0.05). Likewise, SC hydration was significantly increased at most sites (P <0.05), except the volar surface of the leg (P = 0.513). There was no change in hair density. Throughout the duration of casting, there was an increase in itch and malodour scores. Conclusions: Moderate but significant changes in TEWL, SC hydration and subjective symptoms were observed during the duration of cast immobilisation, demonstrating that cast immobilisation for up to 4 weeks exerts moderate adverse impact on patients’ skin. Further studies to explore the use of better materials for cast immobilisation to improve skin barrier function and overall patient satisfaction are warranted. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2020;49:285–93 Ann Acad Med Singapore 2020;49:354–59 Key words: Cast immobilisation, Transepidermal water loss, Stratum corneum hydration

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EMOLLIENT MILK XEMOSE IN THERAPY OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN CHILDREN

Rossiiskii Allergologicheskii ZHurnal ◽

10.36691/rja629 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 59-63

Author(s):

E T KINDEEVA ◽

N G KOROTKII ◽

A N PAMPURA

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Clinical Efficacy ◽

Combined Therapy ◽

Allergic Inflammation ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Skin Surface ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Epidermal Barrier

Background. Structural and functional damages of the epidermal barrier in patients with atopic dermatitis promote the entry of allergens and development of Th2-type allergic inflammation. Moisturizers containing lipids increase the physiological antiinflammatory effects of topical corticosteroids (TGKS), improve the epidermal barrier and reduce the duration of TGKS using preventing further infringement barrier. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of emollient milk Xemose in children with atopic dermatitis. Materials and methods. We examined 27 children with atopic dermatitis. Children were divided into 2 groups: patients in group 1 (n=14) used emollient milk Xemose twice a day on the skin lesions and limbs in the complex therapy, patients in the 2nd group (n=13) received combined therapy incorporating traditional dampening agents on the basis of lanolin (Unna cream) 3 times daily. All patients underwent measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWl) (Tewameter TM 300, Multi Probe Adapter MPA 5/9, Courage + Khazaka) and the pH of the skin (Skin-pH-Meter, Multi Probe Adapter MPA 5/9, Courage + Khazaka) before and after 2 weeks of therapy. Results. Patients in groupthat used Xemose milk and children in group with Unna cream after 2 weeks showed a statistically significant decrease of TEWl (p=0,041 and p=0,04, respectively). TEWl was significantly lower in children treated for 2 weeks with milk Xemose (p=0,027) than in children treated with Unna cream. in both groups pH skin surface have not changed (р=0,22 and р=0,22 respectively). Conclusion. Clinical efficacy of milk Xemose as compound improving skin barrier function in children with atopic dermatitis was shown.

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