Clustering-based preprocessing method for lipidomic data analysis: application for the evolution of newborn skin...

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Dermatology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• The skin barrier requires adaptation after birth to a gaseous environment.
• Skin surface lipids (SSLs) are crucial for protecting the skin barrier.
• Understanding postnatal lipid evolution is key for infant skincare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the changes in individual lipid compounds during the postnatal period.
• To develop a novel data processing method for complex lipid analysis.
• To identify age-related changes in skin surface lipids.

Main Methods:

• Collected 70 SSL samples from newborns up to 6 months.
• Utilized high-temperature gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HT-GC/MS).
• Developed and applied a clustering-based preprocessing method (CB-PPM) for data analysis.

Main Results:

• CB-PPM reduced data volume, aligned chromatograms, and clustered mass spectra.
• Data was integrated into a single matrix for efficient chemometric analysis.
• Demonstrated increased cholesterol esterification with epidermal fatty acids (C20-C25) as infants aged.

Conclusions:

• The novel CB-PPM facilitates efficient analysis of complex lipidomic data.
• Showed for the first time the epidermis's molecular contribution to SSL production postnatally.
• Findings support the development of improved infant skin protection products.