title: The chemistry and biology of 6-hydroxyceramide, the youngest member of the human sphingolipid family.
abstract: Sphingolipids are crucial for the life of the cell. In land-dwelling mammals, they are equally important outside the cell-in the extracellular space of the skin barrier-because they prevent loss of water. Although a large body of research has elucidated many of the functions of sphingolipids, their extensive structural diversity remains intriguing. A new class of sphingolipids based on 6-hydroxylated sphingosine has recently been identified in human skin. Abnormal levels of these 6-hydroxylated ceramides have repeatedly been observed in atopic dermatitis; however, neither the biosynthesis nor the roles of these unique ceramide subclasses have been established in the human body. In this Minireview, we summarize the current knowledge of 6-hydroxyceramides, including their discovery, structure, stereochemistry, occurrence in healthy and diseased human epidermis, and synthetic approaches to 6-hydroxysphingosine and related ceramides.
authors.affiliation: Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Heyrovského 1203, 50005 Hradec Králové (Czech Republic).
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kováčik
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Kateřina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vávrová
mesh_terms: D002518:Ceramides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D013107:Sphingolipids
keywords: ceramides; lipids; membranes; skin; sphingolipids