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Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin
Published on: July 14, 2017
Inhibition of beta-TrCP function potentiates UVB-induced apoptosis in hTERT-immortalized normal human keratinocytes
Neehar Bhatia1, Tara A Demmer, Vladimir S Spiegelman
1Department of Dermatology and Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
Abstract:
Chronic skin exposure to UV radiation manifests in a score of biochemical events, DNA damage and mutations which can potentially cause skin cancer. The ubiquitin proteasome pathway controls the degradation of a majority of regulatory eukaryotic proteins including those which play a key role in tumorigenesis. SCFbetaTrCP E3 ubiquitin ligases mediate ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of phosphorylated substrates that play a key role in signal transduction. Activation of several signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis was shown to elevate expression and activity of beta-TrCP1/2. In this study, we established and characterized human neonatal foreskin keratinocytes, rendered immortal by retroviral introduction of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). These skin hTERT immortalized normal keratinocytes (STINKs) maintain characteristic traits of keratinocytes, such as expression of keratins, cytoplasmic localization of basonuclin and susceptibility to high concentration of calcium. We analyzed the response of STINKs to UVB radiation and its classical markers, such as p53 and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. We also demonstrate that inhibition of beta-TrCP2 function, by induction of dominant negative beta-TrCP2 (beta-TrCP2DeltaN), accentuates UVB induced apoptosis, and this phenomenon is independent of NF-kappaB and p53 pathways.
Insights
UV radiation causes DNA damage, potentially leading to skin cancer. Inhibiting beta-TrCP2 enhances UVB-induced apoptosis in skin cells, independent of p53 and NF-kappaB pathways.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Dermatology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Chronic UV radiation exposure causes DNA damage and mutations, increasing skin cancer risk.
- The ubiquitin proteasome pathway, particularly SCFbetaTrCP E3 ligases, degrades key proteins in tumorigenesis.
- beta-TrCP1/2 activity is elevated in activated signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and characterize immortalized human keratinocytes (STINKs) for studying UVB responses.
- To analyze the response of STINKs to UVB radiation, focusing on p53 and NF-kappaB markers.
- To investigate the role of beta-TrCP2 in UVB-induced apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Established immortalized human neonatal foreskin keratinocytes (STINKs) using hTERT.
- Analyzed STINKs' response to UVB radiation, assessing p53 and NF-kappaB.
- Induced dominant-negative beta-TrCP2 (beta-TrCP2DeltaN) to inhibit beta-TrCP2 function.
Main Results:
- STINKs maintained keratinocyte characteristics, including keratin expression and calcium susceptibility.
- UVB radiation induced characteristic responses in STINKs.
- Inhibition of beta-TrCP2 function significantly enhanced UVB-induced apoptosis.
- Enhanced apoptosis was independent of p53 and NF-kappaB pathways.
Conclusions:
- STINKs serve as a valuable model for studying skin responses to UVB radiation.
- Beta-TrCP2 plays a significant role in regulating UVB-induced apoptosis in keratinocytes.
- Targeting beta-TrCP2 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for skin cancer prevention or treatment.
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