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Isolation of Mouse Epidermal Keratinocytes and Their In Vitro Clonogenic Culture
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MAPK Pathway Involved in Epidermal Terminal Differentiation of Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes

Xianguang Meng1,2, Liyun Qiu3, Haiyan Song1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Jinan Central Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250013, Shandong Province, China.

Open Medicine (Warsaw, Poland)
|May 18, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways regulate epidermal terminal differentiation. The p38 MAPK pathway is particularly crucial for this process in normal human epidermal keratinocytes.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology and Cell Biology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Epidermal terminal differentiation is a complex process essential for skin barrier function.
  • Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are known regulators of cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of MAPK signaling pathways in epidermal terminal differentiation.
  • To investigate the specific contributions of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were treated with specific MAPK inhibitors (SB203580, PD98059, SP600125).
  • Protein expression of filaggrin and differentiation markers was assessed using Western blotting.
  • mRNA levels of differentiation-related proteins were quantified via real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR).

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of all tested MAPK pathways significantly reduced filaggrin expression in NHEKs.
  • p38 MAPK inhibition notably decreased differentiation markers (cytokeratin 5, 14, ST14, SPRR3), Akt, and NF-κB.
  • JNK inhibition suppressed cytokeratin 14, SPRR3, Akt, and NF-κB, while ERK1/2 inhibition primarily affected SPRR3 and Akt.

Conclusions:

  • MAPK signaling pathways are critical regulators of epidermal terminal differentiation.
  • The p38 MAPK pathway plays a particularly significant role in this process.
  • These findings highlight the importance of MAPK signaling in maintaining epidermal homeostasis.
Keywords:
Differentiation-related proteinsEpidermal terminal differentiationKeratinocyte differentiationMAPK signaling pathwayNormal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs)

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