Amorepacific Discovers Genetic Skin Barrier Regulator, Lesion Connection via Cosmetics & Toiletries

Through the use of what it refers to as ‘bio big data analysis technology,’ Amorepacific has identified the role and epigenetic mechanism of EGR3, a gene that regulates skin barrier formation.

These research results were presented as an e-poster under the title, “Skin Barrier Formation by Epigenetic Regulation of EGR3,” at the Society for Investigative Dermatology’s annual academic conference, which took place online May 3-8, 2021. 

As the company explained, keratinocytes in the granular layer of the epidermis play an important role in the proper formation and functioning of the skin barrier. Despite an abundance of existing studies about how keratinocytes differentiate and develop, however, finding genes that comprehe­nsively regulate those processes had not previously been observed.

Kyuhan Kim, Ph.​D., of the Sulwhasoo Heritage and Science Center, at Amorepac­ific’s R&D Center, discovered that EGR3 is the gene responsible for the formation of the skin barrier. Kim’s research also confirmed that the expression of this gene is significantly reduced in lesions associated with skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and squamous cell carcinoma.

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By Michele Behrens – May 26, 2021