Lysophospholipids Help Strengthen Skin’s Moisturizing Abilities

TOKYO—Lysophospholipids (LPL) have the potential to strengthen the skin moisturizing capability by upregulating the expression of mRNAs encoding components important to skin barrier function and skin hydration, according to a study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (Jan. 27, 2011). Recent studies have demonstrated LPL plays critical roles in several biological signal transduction pathways to maintain the homoeostasis of cells, tissues and organs. Among them, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been identified as a lipid mediator that induces morphological improvement in the epidermis in mice. In this study, researchers examined the effects of LPL (soybean-derived phospholipids modified with phospholipase A2 and C) compared with LPA. Initially, researchers examined the effects of LPA on normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) focusing on the expression of profilaggrin and serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) mRNAs. LPA enhanced the expression of profilaggrin and SPT mRNAs via the modulation of Ca2+ influx. Based on those results, the influence of LPL on NHEK was examined and was expanded to analyze the expression of two tight junction–related proteins, occludin and claudin-1. LPL had similar effects to increase profilaggrin and SPT mRNA expression and also stimulated the expression of occludin and claudin-1 at the mRNA and protein levels. In accordance with these results, LPL elicited significant improvements in surface water content in human skin.