Acyl-CoA Binding Protein and Epidermal Barrier Function

The acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) is a 10 kDa intracellular protein found in all eukaryotic species and mammalian tissues, with high expression in the epidermis, especially in lipid-synthesizing suprabasal layers. Disruption of the ACBP gene in mice resulted in noticeable skin and fur abnormalities, including tousled and greasy fur, alopecia, and skin scaling with age. These mice also exhibited compromised epidermal barrier function, evidenced by a ~50% increase in transepidermal water loss compared to wild type mice. Lipidomic analyses revealed significantly reduced levels of non-esterified very long chain fatty acids in the stratum corneum of ACBP−/− mice, highlighting ACBP's crucial role in maintaining epidermal barrier integrity.