Study of barrier lipids in the skin and skin models

1 Abstract Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry Candidate: Mgr. Michaela Sochorová Supervisor: prof. PharmDr. Kateřina Vávrová, Ph.D. Title of doctoral thesis: Study of barrier lipids in the skin and skin models The barrier lipids are found in the intercellular spaces of the uppermost layer of epidermis - stratum corneum (SC). These lipids comprise an approximately equimolar mixture of ceramides (Cer), fatty acids (FA) and cholesterol (Chol). The composition and organization of the lipid mixture is unique and provides a barrier, which protects organism against harmful effects from the surroundings and, at the same time, it protects body from excessive water loss and contributes to homeostasis maintenance. Skin barrier disruption, including altered barrier lipid composition and organization, was described in many skin diseases, for example atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or skin cancer. Study and therapy of these diseases are limited by their complex pathophysiology and a lack of biological material (human skin). Therefore, skin models are appropriate and useful tools for study of skin diseases. The skin models differ in their simplicity/complexity and their preparation therefore they can provide different information. Model lipid membranes are..