The role of the Laminin 332-Actin-Cholesterol axis in skin conditions with altered lipid profiles

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The skin's epidermal barrier plays a vital role in protecting the body from excessive water loss, environmental chemicals and microbial infection. The skin barrier can be disrupted by injury, underlying genetic conditions, inflammation, environmental changes and by age leading to dry, easily-damaged skin. Investigations of dry skin have identified increased corneocyte accumulation as well as alterations in both the composition of skin lipids and their total abundance. Studying rare inherited skin diseases we have identified a link between the basement membrane protein laminin 332 and skin lipids. We believe the same mechanism is responsible for the loss of skin lipids in dry skin and other related skin/scalp conditions.The aim of this BBSRC Unilever CTP PhD studentship is to investigate the mechanism underlying dry skin and identify new strategies for the treatment of dry skin. We will utilise existing skin samples, isolated 'dry skin' keratinocytes and laminin knockdown cell lines to investigate the effect of laminin 332 expression on skin barrier formation and skin lipids. The student will have the opportunity to gain experience in cell and molecular biology techniques, 3D skin models, imaging (including live cell and confocal imaging), SFC-MS/MS lipid analysis and Electron-microscopy.