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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

CUBIC Protocol Visualizes Protein Expression at Single Cell Resolution in Whole Mount Skin Preparations
Published on: August 4, 2016
Expression of canine Kdap in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic epidermis
Hiroko Yagihara1, Emiko Kinjo, Yohei Kobayashi
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
Abstract:
Keratinocyte differentiation-associated protein, Kdap, is a recently identified small secretory protein that may act as a soluble regulator for the cornification and/or desquamation of keratinocytes. To clarify the role of Kdap in the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes, detailed in situ localisation of Kdap was studied using canine skin with normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic epidermis. In normal canine trunk skin, Kdap was expressed by granular keratinocytes, with polarity to the apical side of the cells, suggesting that canine Kdap is present in lamellar granules, as in humans. Expression of Kdap was widespread in the spinous layers in hyperplastic epidermis, but was undetectable in squamous cell carcinomas. These findings suggest that Kdap is closely related to the delay of terminal differentiation and/or release of cells in hyperplastic epidermis.
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