Lipids, proteins and corneocyte adhesion

Abstract

Three factors were examined for their relative contribution to corneocyte cohesion in normal adult pig ear: (1) extracellular lipids derived from membrane-coating granules (MCG); (2) corneosomes (modified stratum corneum desmosomes); and (3) corneocyte covalently bound lipid envelopes. Cohesion strength of the outer stratum corneum was measured directly by cohesometry, then altered by removing MCG lipids with solvents of varying potency. Cohesion changes were related to degree of lipid removal and ultrastructural alterations. Trypsin was also used to see if proteolysis of corneosomes promoted squame shedding. Potent solvents increased cohesion in relation to the amount of MCG lipid extracted. Tighter cohesion was due to fusion of the outer leaflets from covalently bound lipid envelopes on adjacent corneocytes. However, lipid envelopes are unlikely to mediate normal stratum corneum cohesion since MCG lipids play a significant anti-cohesive role preventing their apposition. Mild solvents partially removed MCG lipids causing a slight decrease in cohesion compared with untreated samples. This suggests a minor cohesive role for MCG lipids, consistent with maintaining their barrier function. We believe that corneosomes are the major determinant of stratum corneum cohesiveness because, in untreated skin, both cohesion and the number of corneosomes increased from the surface towards the granular layer. Furthermore, corneosome digestion with trypsin induced superficial squame shedding.