Effect of the lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus on stratum corneum ceramide levels and signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis patients.
A reduced amount of total ceramides could be responsible for functional abnormalities of the skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. The ability of an experimental cream containing sonicated Streptococcus thermophilus to increase skin ceramide levels in healthy subjects has been previously reported. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effects of the topical administration of a S. thermophilus-containing cream on ceramide levels of stratum corneum from AD patients. A 2-week application of the cream, containing a sonicated preparation of the lactic acid bacterium S. thermophilus, in the forearm skin of 11 patients led to a significant and relevant increase of skin ceramide amounts, which could have resulted from the sphingomyelin hydrolysis through the bacterial sphingomyelinase. Moreover, in all patients the topical application of our experimental cream also resulted in the improvement of the signs and symptoms characteristic of AD skin (i.e. erythema, scaling, pruritus).
Di Marzio
Luisa
L
Department of Drug's Science, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti Scalo, Italy.
Centi
Carla
C
Cinque
Benedetta
B
Masci
Silvio
S
Giuliani
Maurizio
M
Arcieri
Anna
A
Zicari
Luigi
L
De Simone
Claudio
C
Cifone
Maria Grazia
MG
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013010:Sonication; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000201:enzymology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002518:Ceramides; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase