Cornified Envelope (CE)

The Cornified Envelope (CE) is a specialized, highly insoluble protein-lipid structure formed beneath the plasma membrane of keratinocytes during the final stages of terminal differentiation in the epidermis and hair follicles (StatPearls, PMID: 15507141). It consists of a scaffold of cross-linked proteins, including loricrin, involucrin, and filaggrin, which are covalently bound by transglutaminases and encased in a lipid matrix composed of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids (StatPearls). This structure constitutes the primary physical and chemical barrier of the skin, protecting the body from environmental stressors, pathogens, and UV radiation while preventing transepidermal water loss (StatPearls, NIH). In dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and ichthyosis, the formation or shedding of these components is dysregulated, leading to scaling, inflammation, and barrier dysfunction (DrugBank, NIH). Therapeutic agents like selenium sulfide and salicylic acid target these components to exert cytostatic effects on cell turnover or act as keratolytics to facilitate the removal of excess cornified cells (DrugBank, NIH).

Other names

Keratinocyte and follicular epithelial cell stratum corneum componentsStratum corneumCornified cell envelopeSkin barrierEpidermal barrier

Keratolysis and cytostatic inhibition of epidermal and follicular epithelial cell turnover