Similar Alterations of the Stratum Corneum Ceramide Profile in Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Ichthyosis: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The intracellular lipid matrix of the stratum corneum is critical for the skin barrier function and consists mainly of cholesterol, fatty acids and ceramides ( Kihara, 2016 Kihara A. Synthesis and degradation pathways, functions, and pathology of ceramides and epidermal acylceramides. Prog Lipid Res. 2016 Jul 1; 63: 50-69 Crossref PubMed Scopus (156) Google Scholar ). Ceramides represent a heterogeneous class of lipids with varying headgroups, carbon chain lengths and degree of unsaturation ( Kawana et al., 2020 Kawana M. Miyamoto M. Ohno Y. Kihara A. Comparative profiling and comprehensive quantification of stratum corneum ceramides in humans and mice by LC/MS/MS. J Lipid Res. 2020 Jun 1; 61: 884-895 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar ). The composition of the ceramide fraction is altered in atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis (PSO) and ichthyosis (ICHT), among other dermatoses ( Kihara, 2016 Kihara A. Synthesis and degradation pathways, functions, and pathology of ceramides and epidermal acylceramides. Prog Lipid Res. 2016 Jul 1; 63: 50-69 Crossref PubMed Scopus (156) Google Scholar ). Here, we aimed to characterize the similarities between the stratum corneum ceramide profile in these indications using a systematic search strategy and meta-analysis.