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Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 43, 1727-1733, October 2002 Sphingolipid metabolism during epidermal barrier development in mice
* Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, D-53121 Bonn, Germany DOI 10.1194/jlr.M200208-JLR200
1 Present address: Quadenweg 3, D-22453 Hamburg, Germany.
2 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: sandhoff{at}uni-bonn.de
In rodents, a competent skin barrier to water loss is formed within 2 or 3 days prior to birth. Acquisition of barrier function during rat gestation correlates with the formation of a stratum corneum enriched in ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids (Aszterbaum, M., G. K. Menon, K. R. Feingold, and M. L. Williams. 1992. Ontogeny of the epidermal barrier to water loss in the rat: correlation of function with stratum corneum structure and lipid content. Pediatr. Res. 31: 308317). We analyzed the formation and epidermal localization of glucosylceramides during embryonic skin barrier development in Balb/c mice. Using immunohistochemistry, epidermal glucosylceramides were hardly detectable 3 days prior to birth. After further 24 h of gestation the level of glucosylceramides was maximal and decreased with increasing gestational age. In parallel, glucosylceramides were targeted to the apical side of the outermost granular keratinocyte layer. A spectrum of five distinct epidermal ceramides was present 2 days prior to birth. With ongoing gestation the composition of the ceramide fraction changed markedly. Most importantly, the level of -hydroxylated acylceramides decreased paralleled by the formation of the corneocyte lipid envelope. This structure consists of -hydroxylated ceramides and fatty acids bound to surface proteins of the corneocytes. The covalent attachment of ceramides or glucosylceramides correlated with the maturation of the stratum corneum and might contribute to its chemical and enzymatic resistance.
Abbreviations: A, Supplementary key words fetal skin development epidermis sphingolipids ceramide epidermal permeability barrier stratum corneum
Mammalian skin possesses a competent barrier to water loss at birth that is localized within the stratum corneum (SC). This outermost epidermal layer is composed of terminally differentiated keratinocytes (corneocytes) surrounded by a mixture of barrier lipids (i.e., ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids) that are arranged in continuous multilamellar membranes (1). A low water permeability is observed for these extracellular membranes because the lipids are organized in multilamellar structures that are stabilized by long chain ceramides.
Probarrier lipids such as glucosylceramides (GlcCers) are delivered to the SC by secretion of lamellar bodies that contain lamellar stacks of the probarrier lipids co-localized with hydrolytic enzymes such as ß-glucocerebrosidase (GlcCerase). Using transgenic mice it has been shown that this enzyme is required for skin barrier formation (2, 3). Postsecretory processing of GlcCers to a family of ceramides (Cers) requires GlcCerase to be assisted by a sphingolipid activator protein (4). Five different Cers and the corresponding set of GlcCers have been identified in mouse epidermis (4, 5). One of these Cers consists of
The surface of the corneocytes is constituted by the cornified cell envelope (CE) formed by enzymatic crosslinking of various proteins such as loricrin and involucrin (10, 11). Very long-chain The SC of murine and rat epidermis is formed 2 or 3 days prior to birth paralleled by the loss of the periderm. The periderm seals the developing epidermis from the amniotic fluid unless the SC is formed (15). A functional epidermal barrier to water loss is established within this final period of gestation (1517). The acquisition of a competent epidermal barrier proceeds in a patterned manner in mice as demonstrated by analysis of dye penetration kinetics (17). Barrier competence is first observed at specific dorsal initiation sides after 16 days of gestation, then barrier function spreads across the epidermis although a regular SC is still lacking. Hardman et al. have shown that the permeability change is associated with early stages of SC formation (17). The impermeable SC-precursor is characterized by prominent cornified envelopes, dispersed keratohyalin granules, and extruded lamellar body contents that initially remain disorganized in the extracellular domains of the developing SC. The barrier function is further improved between 16 and 17 days of gestation and then remains constant until birth that occurs after 19 days of gestation (17). The sequence of lipid metabolic events required for the targeting of barrier lipids to the interstices of the SC and for the formation of the corneocyte lipid envelope have not been analyzed during the process of embryonic skin barrier development. The metabolism of epidermal GlcCers has been shown to be regulated during rat gestation (18). Using a specific inhibitor for GlcCerase, these authors have demonstrated that the processing of GlcCer to Cer is required for the formation of a competent epidermal barrier to water loss. Therefore, we analyzed the formation and epidermal localization of GlcCers and their transformation to both free and protein-bound Cers during late mouse gestation.
Embryos Balb/c mice were time-mated within a 6 h mating window. The mid-point of the mating window designated gestational age zero and was used to calculate the estimated gestational age (EGA). Spontaneous delivery occurred at day 19.5 EGA. The skin was removed from decapitated mice. The epidermis was separated from dermis after floating the skin on Dispase (Roche, grade II) diluted 1:1 in Hank's buffer at 4°C overnight.
Lipid analysis
Immunohistochemistry
Statistical analysis
Development of epidermal GlcCer levels during mouse gestation To characterize the sequence of lipid metabolic events during barrier formation we first analyzed the alterations in the profiles of lipids that are not covalently bound to the cornified envelope. Epidermal GlcCers were separated into three distinct fractions using TLC (Fig. 1A) . The molecular structure of each GlcCer has previously been confirmed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) mass spectroscopy (4). In this work, structural data are presented in accordance with the epidermal Cer terminology proposed by Motta et al. (19). Briefly, the Cer structures are denoted by the composition of the sphingoid base [either sphingosine (S) or phytosphingosine (P)] and the N-acyl fatty acid by the presence of an -hydroxy-group (A), an -hydroxy-group (O), or no hydroxy-group (N), and whether the omega position is further acylated [i.e., esterified (E)].
The epidermal level of GlcCer decreased significantly during development of the SC (Fig.1A, B). The total GlcCer content was maximal at 17.5 days EGA with 6.6 ± 0.8 µg/mg dry epidermis. At 18.5 and 19.5 days EGA the GlcCer levels were significantly decreased by 39% to 4.0 ± 0.4 and by 61% to 2.6 ± 0.5 µg/mg dry epidermis, respectively. These alterations were seen for each distinct GlcCer fraction [i.e., GlcCer(EOS), GlcCer(C16-AS), and GlcCer a/b: complex mixture of GlcCer(NS), (NP), and (C24,26-AS)]. The epidermal level of sphingomyelin was decreased between 17.5 and 18.5 days EGA by 29.0 ± 3.5% and between 17.5 and 19.5 days EGA by 43.5 ± 9.2% (data not shown). This was also evident for the glycerophospholipids. The levels of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylserine decreased between 17.5 and 18.5 days EGA by 22.1 ± 3.4% and between 17.5 and 19.5 days EGA by 38.2 ± 5.5% (data not shown). The localization of epidermal GlcCers during SC formation was studied using immunohistochemistry. The anti-GlcCer rabbit anti-serum has been shown to react with several epidermal GlcCer fractions [i.e., GlcCer(NS), (NP), (OS), (OH)] without any crossreactivity with either free Cer or galactosylceramide (20, 21). At 16.5 days EGA GlcCers were hardly detectable in murine skin (Fig. 2A) . A very weak staining was restricted to a putative periderm layer that was not present after 16.5 days EGA. It was not possible to demonstrate this by quantitative lipid analysis because the very thin and fragile epidermis of pups at 16.5 days EGA could not be isolated from dermis. After further 24 h of embryonic development, epidermal GlcCers were clearly detectable at 17.5 days EGA with a punctuate pattern accumulating at the apical side of a SC precursor that was composed of one or two distinct annucleated cell layer(s) (Fig. 2B). At 18.5 days EGA, a multilayered SC was seen and GlcCer was predominantly found within the stratum lucidum (SL) forming the interface between stratum granulosum and developing SC (Fig. 2C). Analysis of samples incubated without the primary anti-GlcCer anti-serum indicated that the staining of the SC but not of the SC precursor is non-specific. The epidermis of newborn mice (i.e., pups of 19.5 days EGA) showed GlcCer in a punctuate distribution predominantly at the apical side of the stratum granulosum (Fig. 2D). In accordance with quantitative lipid analysis (Fig. 1B) the relative amount of GlcCer appeared to be reduced when compared with the immunostaining intensity one day prior to birth.
Alterations in Cer profiles during embryonic SC formation Epidermal Cers were separated into five distinct fractions using TLC (Fig. 3A) . The molecular structure of each Cer has previously been confirmed by MALDI mass spectroscopy (4). The epidermal Cer profile changed markedly during the final period of mouse gestation. The levels of Cer(NS) and Cer(NP) increased between 17.5 and 19.5 days EGA by 25% and 440%, respectively (Fig. 3B), paralleled by a decrease of the corresponding GlcCer a/b fraction (Fig. 1B). In contrast, the levels of -hydroxylated Cer(C24,26-AS) or Cer(16-AS) either remained constant or decreased by 74%, respectively. Interestingly, although GlcCer(EOS) was found to decrease during the 2-day period prior to birth this was also true for Cer(EOS), which decreased by 43% between 17.5 and 19.5 days EGA (Fig. 3B). This finding indicates that the recruitment of either GlcCer(EOS) or Cer(EOS) for the formation of the corneocyte lipid envelope occurs during this period of epidermal barrier formation.
Formation of the corneocyte lipid envelope during mouse gestation To analyze the development of the corneocyte lipid envelope, the extractable lipids were removed from the epidermis and the samples were subjected to alkaline hydrolysis and re-extracted. Lipids recovered by this procedure were separated by TLC into three distinct fractions (Fig. 4A) , which have previously been identified as i) non-hydroxylated fatty acids, ii) Cer(OS), and iii) -hydroxylated fatty acids with a predominating chain length of 32-carbon and 34-carbon that are also found to predominate in Cer(OS) (4). Between 17.5 and 19.5 days EGA the levels of Cer(OS) and -OH-fatty acids recovered from the CE by alkaline hydrolysis increased dramatically by 340% and 540%, respectively (Fig. 4B). The increase of these two constituents of the corneocyte lipid envelope was most prominent between 17.5 and 18.5 days EGA. In contrast, the levels of non-hydroxylated fatty acids did not change significantly during the two-day period prior to birth (Fig. 4B). Because it was not possible to isolate the epidermis of pups at 16.5 days EGA, full thickness skin was processed for analysis of protein-bound lipids. Neither Cer(OS) nor -OH-fatty acids could be detected after alkaline hydrolysis of skin prepared form pups delivered at 16.5 days EGA. Only trace amounts of protein-bound GlcCer were detected in the epidermis of term pups (19.5 days EGA) and pups delivered at either 17. 5 or 18.5 days EGA.
The SC of rodent epidermis is formed 2 or 3 days prior to birth immediately after loss of the periderm. Within this final period of gestation, a functional barrier is established as measured by transepidermal water loss and dye penetration kinetics (16, 17). In this study, we characterized the development of epidermal lipid profiles during embryonic SC formation underlying the acquisition of a competent barrier to water loss. It has been shown that the processing of epidermal GlcCer to Cer is a prerequisite for barrier formation (24). In these studies, transgenic mice were used that were deficient in either GlcCerase or sphingolipid activator proteins required for enzymatic deglycosylation of GlcCer. Here, we demonstrate that this metabolic event correlates with the development of the SC during normal mouse gestation. Three days prior to birth, GlcCer was hardly detectable in murine skin using immunohistochemistry. After further 24 h of gestation the GlcCer level peaked indicating that the synthesis of GlcCer required for barrier competence at birth is sharply initiated. The signal triggering the onset of GlcCer biosynthesis in fetal epidermis remains to be determined. At 17.5 days EGA GlcCer was localized predominantly in vesicular structures. These putative epidermal lamellar bodies were concentrated in a SC precursor composed of one or two annucleated cell layer(s). The GlcCer level decreased with ongoing gestation from 17.5 days EGA to birth. During this period GlcCer accumulated at the interface between the stratum granulosum and the developing SC. The immunhistochemical localization of GlcCer at 18.5 days EGA suggests that the bulk hydrolysis of GlcCer to Cer occurs within the extracellular domains at the apical side of the stratum granulosum. The decrease of GlcCer levels between 17.5 and 19.5 days EGA is most likely due to increased enzymatic hydrolysis of GlcCer to Cer together with decreased de novo synthesis. It has been shown that Cer synthesis decreases during late rat gestation reaching a minimum when barrier competence is fully established at birth (22). Moreover, GlcCerase mRNA and protein levels increase during rat barrier ontogenesis (18).
The epidermal Cer profile changed during late mouse gestation. In this work, we focused on alterations in lipid profiles rather than on the increase of mass levels of barrier lipids per surface area that is self-evident for the developing SC. This has previously been reported by Aszterbaum et al. (16), who analyzed the SC lipids of fetal rats of various EGA. Most interestingly, we found a decrease of Cer(EOS) among the total Cer during late mouse gestation. Up to this point, the free lipids were analyzed that were isolated by solvent extraction. Corneocytes are known to be coated by a monolayer of Cer(OS) and
The corneocyte lipid envelope is formed within the final 2 day-period prior to birth. The levels of bound Cer(OS) and It is widely recognized that the CE in conjunction with the attached corneocyte lipid envelope is of critical importance for the skin barrier. Hardman et al. reported that the murine skin possesses a partial barrier status at 16.5 days EGA and complete barrier competence at 17.5 days EGA (17). This has been demonstrated by measuring both transepidermal water loss and dye penetration kinetics. Interestingly, at 16.5 days of gestation, a multilayered SC is not present in mouse embryos and the corneocyte lipid envelope is hardly detectable even in those pups delivered at 17.5 days EGA. Extrusion of lamellar body contents was first observed after 16 days of mouse gestation with extruded lipid material remaining disorganized in the interstices of the developing SC (17). This has also been observed for rat embryos 3 days prior to spontaneous delivery (16). At this time point rat SC-lipids were not enriched in GlcCers, indicating that the failure of extruded lipid discs to form broad continuous lamellar bilayers is not based on insufficient postsecretory processing of GlcCer to Cer (16). In this study, we show that the corneocyte lipid envelope is not yet present after 16.5 days of mouse gestation. Therefore, this structure might provide a template that is of critical importance for the postsecretory dispersion and organization of SC-lipids. Other major functions of the corneocyte lipid envelope might be to improve the chemical and enzymatic resistance of the SC and to contribute to the integrity of the barrier against environmental insults. In addition, the hydrophobic interaction between the extracellular lipid bilayers and the corneocyte lipid envelope may restrict swelling of intercellular domains between adjacent desomosomes when the SC becomes hydrated.
It has been shown that pharmacologic inhibition of the biosynthesis of In conclusion, we have characterized distinct lipid biochemical alterations in the epidermis during mouse gestation. GlcCer is targeted to the apical side of the stratum granulosum and the enzymatic processing of these pro-barrier lipids provides Cers required for the formation of the corneocyte lipid envelope. The assembly of the corneocyte lipid envelope correlates with the organization of SC-lipids into continuous lamellar bilayers but appears to be preceded by acquisition of a partial barrier status. Further studies are required to clarify the role of the corneocyte lipid envelope for the homeostasis and integrity of the epidermal permeability barrier.
We thank Dr. Julia Reichelt for her help with the preparation of embryonic mouse skin. This work was supported by grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Forschergruppe "Keratinocyten-Proliferation und differenzierte Leistung in der Epidermis"). Manuscript received May 28, 2002 and in revised form June 26, 2002.
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