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Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry Pavla Audrlická Supervisor: prof. PharmDr. Kateřina Vávrová, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Study of cholesterol depletion in human skin barrier Barrier function of human skin barrier dwells in intercellular lipid membranes of the uppermost skin layer, the stratum corneum (SC), composed of equimolar mixture of ceramides (Cer), free fatty acids (FFA) and cholesterol (Chol).1 Chol is required for proper lipid organization of SC, however, it stays unclear, why is it present in an amount so high that it separates from other lipids.2 Experiments using synthetic model membranes with decreased Chol content suggested that molar ratio of Cer:FFA:Chol 1:1:0,4 is sufficient for lipid barrier formation and its complex functionality.3 The aim of this work was to manipulate Chol content directly in human SC and to study the effects of decreased Chol content on the SC permeability and microstructure. Ex vivo SC obtained from healthy donors was extracted by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD) to reduce natural Chol content. The extracted SC did not show significant changes in Cer or FFA whilst the amount of Chol was lowered to 78 %. SC barrier properties were evaluated by measurements of transepidermal water loss...