Epidermal ceramides (Cer) comprise a heterogeneous family of seven species, including
two unique ω-hydroxylated Cer, that are key components of the stratum corneum (SC)
intercellular lamellar membranes responsible for the epidermal permeability barrier.
Although both glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and the phospho-sphingolipid sphingomyelin
(SM) are potential precursors of SC Cer, based on reported chemical structures of epidermal
GlcCer and SC Cer, it is assumed that all major subfractions of SC Cer are generated from …