Upregulation of gene expression levels of ceramide metabolic enzymes after application of sphingomyelin-based liposomes to a three-dimensional cultured human epidermis model

• Addition of sphingomyelin-based liposomes to a cultured human epidermis increased content of ceramides NS, NP, AS and AP.
• Reaction of sphingomyelin-based liposomes with sphingomyelinase, generated only ceramide NS.
• mRNA levels of β-glucocerebrosidase and sphingomyelinase was increased by sphingomyelin-based liposomes to a epidermis model.
• Application of SM-L to skin affected the ceramide metabolism pathway.

Background/AimsWe have previously reported that the application of sphingomyelin-based liposomes (SM-L) to a three-dimensional cultured skin model increase the content of ceramides NS, NP, AS and AP. However, the mechanism responsible for these increased ceramide levels was not identified.MethodsSM-L and sphingomyelinase (SMase) were combined and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. SM-L were also applied to three-dimensional cultured skin for 24 h and quantification of SMase and β-glucocerebrosidase (β-GCase) mRNA expression levels performed using real-time PCR. Additionally, three dimensional cultured skin was incubated with SM-L and the β-GCase inhibitor conduritol B epoxide (CBE) and the ceramide content determined by high performance thin layer chromatography.ResultsWe observed generation of ceramide NS after reaction of SM-L and SMase. However, the other ceramide classes were not detected. Notably, SMase and β-GCase mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in cells of the skin model following application of SM-L. The levels of ceramides NS, NP, AS and AP were decreased by treatment with CBE. However, only ceramide NS was significantly increased by treatment with CBE and SM-L in combination.ConclusionThese findings indicate that application of SM-L to cultured skin upregulates the expression of SMase and β-GCase and increases ceramide content.