Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is involved in the control of proliferation and differentiation of human keratinocytes. It binds to, and activates, the tyrosine kinase KGF receptor (KGFR), a splicing transcript variant of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. We have previously shown (C. Marchese et al., Cell Growth Differ., 8: 989-997, 1997) that differentiation of primary cultured keratin...

We have examined the abundance and distribution of actin and several actin-associated proteins in human epidermal keratinocytes before and after initiation of terminal differentiation. Keratinocytes were placed in suspension in methylcellulose for 1 h or 24 h and then extracted for immunoblotting. At 24 h, when the proportion of cells expressing the terminal differentiation marker, involucrin, ...

Focal acantholytic dyskeratosis (FAD), epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK), and Hailey-Hailey-like acantholysis (HH) represent unique histology reaction patterns, which can be associated with defined phenotypic and genotypic alterations. Incidental microscopic foci demonstrating these patterns have been identified in skin and mucosal specimens in association with a gamut of disease processes. Th...

OLP is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that may develop into squamous-cell carcinoma. Cytokeratins, which are important components of the cytoskeleton, are excellent epithelial differentiation markers used to study neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. To study the profile of cytokeratins in OLP and their possible association with dysplastic alterations, monoclonal antibodies...

The barrier function of the skin protects the mammalian body against infection, dehydration, UV irradiation and temperature fluctuation. Barrier function is reduced with the skin's intrinsic aging process, however the molecular mechanisms involved are unknown. We previously demonstrated that Claudin (Cldn)-containing tight junctions (TJs) are essential in the development of the epidermis and th...

Fatty acid transport protein (FATP) 4 is one of a family of six FATPs that facilitate long- and very-long-chain fatty acid uptake. Mice lacking FATP4 are born with tight, thick skin and a defective barrier; they die neonatally because of dehydration and restricted movements. Mutations in SLC27A4, the gene encoding FATP4, cause ichthyosis prematurity syndrome (IPS), characterized by premature bi...

In the epidermis, one of the earliest characterized events in keratinocyte differentiation is the coordinate induction of a pair of keratins specifically expressed in suprabasal cells, keratin 1 (K1) and keratin 10 (K10). Both in vivo and in vitro, extracellular calcium is necessary for several biochemical and structural changes during keratinocyte differentiation. However, it has been unclear ...

Involucrin is a marker of keratinocyte terminal differentiation and is expressed only in the suprabasal layers of stratified squamous epithelium. In a previous study with various cell types in culture, we noted that expression of the putative human involucrin promoter was keratinocyte specific. To determine if this promoter is sufficient to direct expression to the suprabasal cells of stratifie...

Abstract A 35-year-old woman presented with a 4-year history of persistent pruritic rash affecting her upper and lower limbs, concerning to the patient for cosmetic reasons. She denied any precipitating factors reported no improvement use topical clobetasol propionate. Notably, mother had similar rash, which also developed in 30s continued progress over time. Physical examination revealed bilat...