This product is a high purity omega-esterified phytoceramide that is ideal as a standard and for studies involving skin-barrier lipids. Omega-esterified phytoceramides are found almost exclusively in the epidermal layer, especially the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the outermost cellular layer of the epidermis and functions as the permeability barrier in mammals. It contains 12 extractable ceramide fractions containing sphingosine, 6-hydroxysphingosine, dihydrosphingosine and phytosphingosine bases.1,2 The omega-esterified ceramides are formed from glucosylceramide and sphingomyelin in special lamellar bodies in epidermal cells from which they are excreted into the extracellular domain of the outermost cell layer of the epidermis. Mammalian skin contains significant amounts of sphingolipids (as much as 50% of the total lipids), particularly very long chain linoleoyl esterified ceramide and glucosylceramide (also called O-acylceramide and O-acylglucosylceramide). These lipids, which are mostly found in the extracellular domains, are vital to the water permeability barrier to prevent lethal loss of water and pathogen invasion. The omega-esterified ceramides can be covalently bound to proteins of the cornified envelope where they form a hydrophobic layer. A deficiency of linoleoyl omega-esterified ceramides is strongly correlated with skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.3
