Distribution of Gangliosides in Human Epidermis, Dermis and Whole Skin

As very little information is available regarding human skin ganglioside, an investigation was made on the different patterns of gangliosides in samples of whole skin and on epidermis and dermis separated from such samples. The profile of monosialogangliosides of epidermis showed GM3 and GD3 as major species, with GM1 and an unknown species as minor ones. Di- and trisialogangliosides were also present in small amounts in the total human epidermis although they were mostly absent from the gangliosides of basal keratinocytes. The dermis had a more complex pattern, with GM3, GD3 and significant amounts of b-series gangliosides. Samples from donors of different ages were analyzed and a slight increase of gangliosides was noticeable along with age in the skin, with dermis accounting for this increase.