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Integral lipid in human hair follicle

Won-Soo Lee1, Tak Heon Oh, Seung Hyun Chun

  • 1Department of Dermatology and Institute of Hair & Cosmetic Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea. leews@wonju.yonsei.ac.kr

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Symposium Proceedings
|December 31, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Integral hair lipids form a crucial "hair barrier," distinct from sebaceous lipids. This study reveals their distribution within the hair follicle, aiding skin barrier function.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Hair follicles possess a unique integral lipid layer (LL) covalently bound to hair proteins, distinct from sebaceous lipids.
  • Understanding the distribution and composition of this hair follicle lipid layer is essential for elucidating its function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the precise distribution of integral lipids within the human hair follicle.
  • To characterize the ultrastructure and chemical composition of the hair follicle lipid layer.
  • To propose the concept of a
  • hair barrier
  • based on observed similarities to the skin's epidermal barrier.

Main Methods:

  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using a novel fixative (Lee's fixative: OsO4 and RuO4) for optimal hair follicle lipid visualization.
  • Longitudinal observation of hair follicles along the hair axis.
  • High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) for analyzing the chemical composition of integral hair lipids.

Main Results:

  • Integral hair lipids are primarily distributed in the hair cuticle and the keratinized inner root sheath.
  • Lamellar granules are abundant near the integral lipid layer within the hair follicle.
  • The chemical profile of integral hair lipids differs significantly from epidermal and sebaceous lipids.

Conclusions:

  • The integral lipid layer in the hair follicle functions analogously to the epidermal lipid layer in the stratum corneum, contributing to barrier properties.
  • A new term,
  • hair barrier
  • , is proposed to describe this structure and its role.
  • Further research into the hair barrier could reveal new insights into skin and hair health.

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