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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
10:42
Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin
Published on: December 22, 2017
Selenoproteins are essential for proper keratinocyte function and skin development
Aniruddha Sengupta1, Ulrike F Lichti, Bradley A Carlson
1Molecular Biology of Selenium Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
Plos One
|September 1, 2010
Summary
Selenium is crucial for skin health, protecting against UV damage. Removing selenoproteins in mice caused severe skin and hair abnormalities, proving their essential role in skin development and antioxidant defense.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Dermatology
- Genetics
Background:
- Dietary selenium protects skin from UV damage and cancer.
- Selenium deficiency impairs skin's antioxidant enzymes and causes skin/hair abnormalities.
- Selenoproteins, containing the amino acid selenocysteine, mediate most of selenium's biological functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of selenoproteins in skin and hair development.
- To determine the function of selenoproteins in keratinocytes.
- To provide genetic evidence for selenoprotein importance in cutaneous biology.
Main Methods:
- Generated knockout mice lacking selenoproteins in keratin 14 (K14)-expressing cells.
- Analyzed the phenotype of knockout mice, including skin and hair development.
- Assessed the role of selenoproteins in keratinocyte function and antioxidant defense.
Main Results:
- Selenoprotein deficiency in mice resulted in a runt phenotype, skin abnormalities, and premature death.
- Lack of selenoproteins caused hyperplastic epidermis and aberrant hair follicle morphogenesis, leading to alopecia.
- Selenoproteins were identified as essential antioxidants in skin, crucial for keratinocyte growth and viability.
Conclusions:
- Severe selenoprotein deficiency leads to significant skin and hair abnormalities.
- Selenoproteins are vital for keratinocyte function, survival, and overall skin and hair development.
- This study provides genetic evidence for the critical role of selenoproteins in cutaneous biology.
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