A (31) P NMR study of extracted phospholipid composition of human skin: full thickness skin, dermis, epidermis and granulation tissue

Phospholipids are the most important component of the plasma membrane in skin cells. Until recently, skin phospholipids have only been studied by chromatography and those results need confirmation by other methods such as (31) PNMR spectroscopy.

Phospholipid profiles were analyzed from human skin and granulation tissue using (31) PNMR spectroscopy. Skin samples were taken from lower extremity amputation specimens and from one healthy volunteer. The granulation tissue was obtained from the wound bed of venous stasis ulcers, pressure ulcers and post-op non-healing surgical wounds. Phospholipid extractions were performed on full thickness skin samples (excluding the subcutaneous layer), epidermis, dermis, and granulation tissue biopsies.

Twelve phospholipid species were detected in each of the groups studied: PA, CL, DHSM, Eplas, PE, PS, SM, LPC, PI, AAPC, and PC. Statistically significant differences were found between epidermis and full thickness skin in relation to the quantity of PA, CL, DHSM, LPC, AAPC, and PC. The phospholipid ratio [(PE+Eplas+PI+PA)/PC] was calculated for each group: the epidermis value was 1.30, the dermis value was 0.62 and full thickness skin value was 0.49.

These phospholipid profiles present a very unique distribution, which correlates with the physiological activity of the individual layer. The study of the phospholipid profile of granulation tissue opens a new line of research, evaluating changes in these profiles during the various phases of wound healing.