FIG 4.

Reduced acylceramide levels in the Aldh3a2 Aldh3b2 DKO mouse epidermis. (A) Lipids extracted from the epidermis of WT, Aldh3b2 KO, and DKO mice at P0 were separated via thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using two different solvent systems suitable for the separation of ceramides (left) and less polar lipids (right). Lipids were stained with copper phosphate reagent. Acyl-Cer, acylceramide; Acyl-GlcCer, acyl-glucosylceramide; Cer, ceramide; Chol, cholesterol; GlcCer, glucosylceramide; GPL, glycerophospholipid. (B to D) Lipids were extracted from the epidermis of WT (n = 3), Aldh3b2 KO (n = 3), and DKO (n = 3) mice at P0, and acylceramides (B), OAHFAs (C), and ω-OH ceramides (D) were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The quantities of each lipid species (according to chain length and saturation) and of total lipids are shown in the left and right panels, respectively. Values presented are means ± SD (*, P < 0.05, **, P < 0.01; Tukey’s test). The structure of each type of lipid is shown above the graph. b2 KO, Aldh3b2 KO.