Disturbed Epidermal Structure in Mice with Temporally Controlled Fatp4 Deficiency

The study investigated the role of Fatp4 in epidermal structure by creating mice with epidermis-specific Fatp4 deficiency using tamoxifen-induced Cre/lox conditional mutagenesis. The results showed that these mice developed hyperproliferative hyperkeratosis, disturbed epidermal barrier function, and significant abnormalities in skin structure, including increased cell layers and altered expression of differentiation markers. The compromised barrier was evidenced by the permeability to X-gal and Lucifer yellow dyes. The findings demonstrated that Fatp4 in epidermal keratinocytes was essential for maintaining normal epidermal structure and barrier function, potentially through its involvement in ceramide metabolism.