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Published on: February 14, 2018
Topical sphingolipids in antisepsis and antifungal therapy
D J Bibel1, R Aly, H R Shinefield
1Department of Dermatology, University of California at San Francisco 94143-0517, USA.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Simple sphingolipids like sphinganine and sphingosine show in vivo antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. These findings support their role in skin
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Free sphingolipids, sphingosine and sphinganine, are present in the stratum corneum.
- These lipids demonstrate potent in vitro antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of sphingosine and sphinganine as antiseptics and therapeutic agents.
- To assess their activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes infections.
Main Methods:
- Human volunteer studies: preventative and restorative antiseptic assays.
- Guinea-pig models: therapeutic treatment for experimental fungal infections.
- Microbial load reduction and inflammation assessment.
Main Results:
- Sphinganine achieved up to three-log reductions in microbial populations on human volunteers.
- Sphingosine showed slight anti-inflammatory effects in dermatophyte-infected guinea-pigs.
- Sphinganine eliminated Candida in 75% of infected guinea-pigs by day four.
Conclusions:
- Simple sphingolipids possess significant in vivo antimicrobial properties.
- These lipids are integral components of the skin's natural defense barrier.
- Sphingolipids represent a promising new biochemical strategy for infectious disease treatment.
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