Alkaline ceramidase 1 is essential for mammalian skin homeostasis and regulating whole-body energy expenditure.

ABSTRACT: The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin that acts as a barrier to protect the body from the external environment and to control water and heat loss. This barrier function is established through the multistage differentiation of keratinocytes and the presence of bioactive sphingolipids such as ceramides, the levels of which are tightly regulated by a balance of ceramide synthase and ceramidase activities. Here we reveal the essential role of alkaline ceramidase 1 (Acer1) in the skin. Acer1-deficient (Acer1(-/-) ) mice showed elevated levels of ceramide in the skin, aberrant hair shaft cuticle formation and cyclic alopecia. We demonstrate that Acer1 is specifically expressed in differentiated interfollicular epidermis, infundibulum and sebaceous glands and consequently Acer1(-/-) mice h

SUBMITTER: Liakath-Ali K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4924601 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature