New barrier function of stratum corneum and its regulation in inflammatory skin diseases

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26461688
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Kanoh Hiroyuki 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (40566494)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 角層バリア機構 / セラミド / サイトカイン / インターフェロン-γ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ceramide plays an important role in the stratum corneum barrier functions as a major component of the intercellular lipid of corneocytes. It has recently been shown that the average fatty acid (FA) chain length of ceramide correlates with the barrier function and is decreased in atopic dermatitis. We have previously shown that the expression of elongase of very long-chain fatty acid (ELOVL) and ceramide synthase (CerS), the key enzymes in the long-chain FA ceramide synthesis, is decreased by IFN-γ in cultured keratinocytes. In the present study, analysis of dermatitis caused by repeated exposure of mouse ear to mite antigen or imiquimod showed that increased expression of IFN-γ was correlated with decreased expression of ELOVL and CerS and decrease in long-chain FA ceramide. These results strongly suggest that, in dermatitis where local expression of IFN-γ is increased, IFN-γ may disrupt skin barrier function by inducing compositional change in stratum corneum ceramide.

Free Research Field

皮膚アレルギー