The role of sphingolipids in the skin aging

Abstract

Investigation of the sphingolipid metabolism is thought to be very actually due to their role in the structural and functional organization of skin derma and epidermis. The optimal composition of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids in the stratum corneum is necessary for skin defense. At the present time nine classes of complex ceramides have been isolated from human epidermis including sphingosine derivatives and skin – specific omega-hydroxy-fatty acids. Many skin disorders including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis as well as the large group of storage disease such as sphingolipoidosises, Gusher’s disease, Newman—Peak disease, Syogren’s syndrome, etc. which are accompanied by the skin lesion and internal organ pathology. There are a lot of international publications on the skin sphingolipid pathology but this question in not widely discussed in our country. Nonetheless, understanding of the biochemistry of skin lipids and sphingolipid metabolism in the keratinocytes and stratum corneum may bring the new knowledge in skin disease pathogenesis as well as may help to create the new sphingolipid-derived skin pharmaceuticals. Our review allows revealing the similar biochemical disruptions under aging and skin disorders based on the perturbations of the sphingolipid metaboiism. Premature skin aging is believed to be due to impair specific skin sphingolipid enzymes and sphingolipid-transferring proteins in the stratum corneum. The new approach to the drug development to restore the skin epidermis hydration and derma vigor may be based on the new synthetic inhibitors and activators of sphingolipid enzymes.