Ceramide

As ceramide is called a counting to the lipids subset of sphingolipids. They consist of a Sphingosinmolekül that is bound by an amide linkage to a fatty acid.

General

Ceramide come together with other skin components in man, among others in the horny layer (stratum corneum) ago. They are there because of their amphiphilic structure of lipid bilayer and therefore a natural barrier that protects the skin from drying and prevents the ingress of foreign matter. For a disturbance of the balance of these substances, it comes to dry skin or to pathological skin conditions such as dermatitis, atopic dermatitis ( eczema ) and psoriasis ( psoriasis).

In addition to the barrier function of the stratum corneum as well as in the rest of ceramides have organism versatile functions in cell differentiation, signal transduction, apoptosis, etc.

Classes

The natural ceramides are divided into classes, which are marked with Roman numerals and. According to the chromatographic run behavior of ceramides Of particular importance, in addition to ceramide III and ceramide I which is an important part of the bilayer of the stratum corneum. A more recent and is now more common nomenclature depends on the structure of ceramide and is based on a letter system:

Structure

There are various ways of the chain structure, which can be determined inter alia by means of X-ray crystallography. The three most well known structures are related from the included angle α between the two chains. These include a parallel arrangement with chain α = 0 °, an angular arrangement with 0 ° < α <180 °, and the stretched shape with α = 180 °. The currently occurring species are critically dependent on the head structure of ceramides and contribute significantly to the behavior of ceramides in mixed systems at. That is, which prevail between lamellar spacing in bilayer systems and whether the Ceramidklasse gel -phase, inverted hexagonal structures and similar forms.

Linoleic acid

Ceramide I is a compound which is structurally as an ester of linoleic acid. In case of insufficient intake of these essential fatty acids can not be sufficiently ceramide I is formed, resulting in dry, flaky skin and barrier disorders.

Biological Effects

Ceramide is considered as a central molecule in sphingolipid metabolism, modulating the activity of the corresponding enzymes. Among the consequences of this modulated enzyme activity include the inhibition of cell growth, induction of apoptosis, promoting cell differentiation, cell aging but also of inflammatory reactions. The physiological regulation and fine tuning of ceramide and its antagonists, such as the sphingosine -1 -phosphate (SPP) is probably of great importance for homeostasis.

Effect of antidepressants on ceramides

Currently, it is investigated whether a link between the use of antidepressants called selective reuptake inhibitors, and the physiological ceramide production in nerve cells exist. After seven years of research in the University of Erlangen -Nuremberg, you came to the conclusion that the above Group of antidepressants inhibit ceramide formation, which is detrimental to the formation of new nerve cells. By thus reinforcing formation of new nerve cells antidepressants deceptive in a scientifically Neglected but decisive improvement in the mood of patients.

Use

Ceramides are used in the form of cosmetic preparations for dry skin and hair care. In medicine, they are used for prevention ( prophylaxis ) of skin disorders and medical skin care for skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis ( eczema ) and psoriasis ( psoriasis).