RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis (AD) skin correlates with stratum corneum (SC) lipid abnormalities including reduction of global lipid content, shorter ceramide (CER) as well as free fatty acid (FFA) chain length and altered CER subclass levels. However, the underlying cause of these changes in lipid composition has not been fully investigated. AIM: We investigated whether the expression of CER and FFA biosynthesis enzymes are altered in AD skin compared with control skin and determine whether changes in enzyme expression can be related with changes in lipid composition. METHODS: In AD patients and controls the expression of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of FFAs and CERs was analyzed in relation to the SC lipid composition. These enzymes include stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD), elongase 1 (ELOVL1) and ELOVL6 involved in FFA synthesis and ß-glucocerebrosidase (GBA), acid-sphingomyelinase (aSmase), ceramide synthase 3 (CerS3) involved in CER synthesis. In TH2 treated human skin equivalents (AD HSEs) mimicking lesional AD skin, the mRNA expression of these enzymes was investigated. RESULTS: The results reveal an altered expression of SCD and ELOVL1 in AD lesional skin. This was accompanied by functional changes displayed by increased unsaturated FFAs (SCD) and reduced FFA C22-C28 (ELOVL1) in AD lesional skin. The expression of GBA, aSmase and CerS3 were also altered in lesional skin. The CER composition in AD lesional skin showed corresponding changes such as increased CER AS and NS (aSmase) and decreased esterified ω-hydroxy CERs (CerS3). In support of the results from AD skin, the AD HSEs showed reduced mRNA ELOVL1, GBA and a Smase levels. CONCLUSION: This study shows that alterations in the expression of key enzymes involved in SC lipid synthesis contribute to changes in the lipid composition in AD skin and inflammation may influence expression of these enzymes.
Assuntos
Ceramidas/metabolismo , Dermatite Atópica/patologia , Epiderme/metabolismo , Ácidos Graxos não Esterificados/metabolismo , Lipogênese , Acetiltransferases/metabolismo , Adulto , Células Cultivadas , Ceramidas/análise , Ceramidas/biossíntese , Citocinas/imunologia , Dermatite Atópica/imunologia , Células Epidérmicas , Epiderme/patologia , Elongases de Ácidos Graxos , Ácidos Graxos não Esterificados/análise , Ácidos Graxos não Esterificados/biossíntese , Feminino , Glucosilceramidase/metabolismo , Humanos , Queratinócitos , Masculino , Esfingomielina Fosfodiesterase/metabolismo , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/metabolismo , Estearoil-CoA Dessaturase/metabolismo , Células Th2/metabolismo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The current case report describes a 35-year-old man who presented with unilateral scrotal angiomas. The presence of unilateral scrotal angiomas was associated with an underlying varicocele on the ipsilateral side due to increased venous pressure. In case of unilateral scrotal angiomas further examination for underlying pathology is necessary.