Protective effect of some exogenous glycolipids on human cultured keratinocytes against lipid peroxidation

Cultured human keratinocytes were incubated in the presence of glycolipids (GM1, asialoGM1, glucosylceramide and galactosylceramide) added to the medium at a concentration of 10(-5) M. All of them became associated with the cells, but in different amounts depending on the type of glycolipid and on the time in culture. GM1- and asialoGM1-treated keratinocytes developed a resistance to peroxidative stress induced by FeSO4/H2O2 treatment. These results suggest that these exogenously added glycolipids could play a role as eutrophic, repairing and protective agents for the epidermis.