Organic osmolytes increase expression of specific tight junction proteins in skin and alter barrier function in keratinocytes.
Cecile El ChamiApril R FosterC JohnsonRasmus Prætorius ClausenP A CornwellIain S HaslamM C StewardRachel Elizabeth Beatrice WatsonHelen S YoungCatherine A O'NeillPublished in: The British journal of dermatology (2020)
Treatment of skin with organic osmolytes modulates TJ structure and function, which could contribute to the epidermal barrier. This emphasizes a role for organic osmolytes beyond the maintenance of intracellular osmolarity. This could be harnessed to enhance topical therapies for diseases characterized by skin barrier dysfunction.