Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding
09:12

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding

Published on: November 14, 2018

Oxytocin modulates proliferation and stress responses of human skin cells: implications for atopic dermatitis

Verena Deing1, Dennis Roggenkamp, Jochen Kühnl

  • 1Beiersdorf AG, Research Skin Care, Hamburg, Germany.

Experimental Dermatology
|May 29, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The oxytocin (OXT) system is newly found in human skin, regulating cell growth and inflammation. Its downregulation is linked to atopic dermatitis, suggesting a role in skin homeostasis and stress.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Dermatology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Oxytocin (OXT) is a neuropeptide hormone with diverse physiological roles.
  • OXT and its receptor (OXTR) expression and function in human skin remain largely uncharacterized.
  • Recent findings suggest OXT expression in keratinocytes, prompting further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of the OXT system in human skin cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes).
  • To determine the role of OXT and OXTR in skin cell proliferation, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
  • To explore the potential involvement of the OXT system in atopic dermatitis (AD).

Main Methods:

  • Detection of OXT and OXTR expression in primary human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
  • Assessment of OXT-induced calcium fluxes to confirm OXTR functionality.
  • Dose-dependent proliferation assays for fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
  • OXTR knockdown experiments to evaluate effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL6, CCL5, CXCL10).
  • Analysis of OXT system expression in lesional and peri-lesional atopic skin.

Main Results:

  • Both OXT and OXTR are expressed in human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, with functional OXTR mediating calcium signaling.
  • OXT dose-dependently inhibits proliferation of both cell types.
  • OXTR knockdown increases ROS levels, decreases GSH levels, and enhances pro-inflammatory cytokine release from keratinocytes.
  • The OXT system is downregulated in atopic skin, particularly in lesional areas.

Conclusions:

  • The OXT system is a novel neuroendocrine regulator of human skin homeostasis.
  • OXT signaling influences key cellular processes like proliferation, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the skin.
  • Dysregulation of the OXT system is implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and other stressed skin conditions.

More Related Videos

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin10:42

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin

Published on: December 22, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells01:12

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells

The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells01:19

Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own EpiSCs...
Cellular Adaptation III: Hyperplasia01:26

Cellular Adaptation III: Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ due to enhanced cell division. It is an adaptive, controlled response to stimuli such as injury, hormones, or stress, involving mitosis to produce genetically identical cells and support tissue repair and regeneration.Tissue CapacityCertain tissues, including the epidermis, intestinal epithelium, bone marrow, and fibroblasts, have a high potential for hyperplasia. Others, such as bone, cartilage, and smooth muscle, show...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.