title: Effects of Asterias amurensis-derived Sphingoid Bases on the de novo Ceramide Synthesis in Cultured Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes.
abstract: Asterias amurensis starfish provide several bioactive species in addition to being fishery waste. Glucosyl ceramides (GlcCers) were extracted from the viscera of these starfish and were isolated by silica gel column chromatography. Degraded GlcCers generated A. amurensis sphingoid bases (ASBs) that mainly consisted of the triene-type bases d18:3 and 9-methyl-d18:3. The effect of these bases on ceramide synthesis and content were analyzed using normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). The bases significantly enhanced the de novo ceramide synthesis and gene expression in NHEKs for proteins, such as serine-palmitoyltransferase and ceramide synthase. Total ceramide, GlcCer, and sphingomyelin contents increased dramatically upon ASB treatment. In particular, GlcCer bearing very-long-chain fatty acids (≥C28) exhibited a significant content increase. These ASB-induced enhancements on de novo ceramide synthesis were only observed in undifferentiated NHEKs. This stimulation of the de novo sphingolipid synthesis may improve skin barrier functions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomembrane and Biofunctional Chemistry, Graduate School of Advanced Life Science, and Frontier Research Center for Post-Genome Science and Technology, Hokkaido University.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Shigefumi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047271:Asterias / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002518:Ceramides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D013110:Sphingosine