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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin
Published on: December 22, 2017
PPAR and LXR activators regulate ABCA12 expression in human keratinocytes
Yan J Jiang1, Biao Lu, Peggy Kim
1Metabolism Section, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northern California Institute for Research and Education, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94121, USA. yan.jiang@med.va.gov
Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPARs) and liver X receptor (LXR) activators boost ABCA12 expression in skin cells. This enhances the skin barrier, potentially aiding in treating ichthyosis disorders.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and Molecular Biology
- Skin Barrier Function and Lipid Transport
Background:
- ABCA12 transporter is crucial for skin permeability barrier homeostasis.
- Mutations in ABCA12 cause severe skin disorders like Harlequin ichthyosis.
- PPAR and LXR activators are known to improve skin barrier function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of PPAR and LXR activators on ABCA12 expression in keratinocytes.
- To determine the role of ABCA12 upregulation in epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cultured human keratinocytes (CHK).
- Administered PPAR and LXR activators.
- Quantified ABCA12 mRNA and protein expression levels.
- Examined alternative ABCA12 transcripts and proteins.
Main Results:
- PPAR-gamma and PPAR-beta/delta activators significantly increased ABCA12 mRNA and protein in CHK.
- LXR activators also increased ABCA12 mRNA, but to a lesser extent.
- PPAR and LXR activators upregulated two major ABCA12 alternative transcripts and proteins.
Conclusions:
- PPAR and LXR activators enhance ABCA12 expression in keratinocytes.
- This upregulation provides a novel mechanism for improving epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis.
- Findings offer potential therapeutic targets for ichthyosis-related skin disorders.
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