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Updated: May 9, 2026

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin
10:42

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin

Published on: December 22, 2017

c-Rel downregulation affects cell cycle progression of human keratinocytes

Verena N Lorenz1, Michael P Schön1, Cornelia S Seitz1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|July 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The c-Rel protein regulates keratinocyte cell fate, impacting growth and death. Its downregulation in skin cells leads to altered morphology, increased apoptosis, and reduced proliferation, suggesting a role in skin cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • c-Rel, a transcription factor in the NF-κB family, has distinct functions across cell types.
  • Its role in human epidermal keratinocytes remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of c-Rel in keratinocytes.
  • To determine the role of c-Rel in epidermal carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence c-Rel in HaCaT keratinocytes.
  • Analyzed cell morphology, apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycle progression, and mitotic spindle formation.

Main Results:

  • c-Rel silencing induced spindle-shaped morphology and increased apoptosis.
  • Downregulation of c-Rel led to reduced proliferation, G2/M cell cycle delay, aberrant mitotic spindle formation, and elevated phospho-aurora A (Thr288).
  • c-Rel expression was detected in skin squamous cell carcinomas.

Conclusions:

  • c-Rel is a critical regulator of keratinocyte cell fate, controlling cell growth and death.
  • c-Rel plays a significant role in epidermal carcinogenesis.

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