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Dynamic expression of α6 integrin indicates epidermal cell behaviors
Weiya He1, Huiyi Xu1, Qikai Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 27, 2019
Summary
Alpha-6 (α6) integrin expression indicates epidermal cell differentiation and migration during wound healing. Its levels dynamically change, increasing in migrating cells and decreasing as wounds re-epithelialize.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
- Integrin Signaling
Background:
- The skin epidermis, comprising interfollicular epidermis (IFE) and hair follicles (HFs), relies on integrins for cellular functions.
- Integrins are crucial cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion molecules regulating epidermal cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of α6 and β1 integrins in epidermal cells.
- To determine the role of α6 and β1 integrins in epidermal differentiation and wound healing (WH) processes.
Main Methods:
- In vitro epidermal cell culture with high calcium (Ca2+) induced differentiation.
- Analysis of integrin expression during wound healing models.
- Correlation analysis between integrin expression, cell migration, and differentiation.
Main Results:
- Both α6 and β1 integrins showed downregulation upon high Ca2+ induced differentiation in vitro.
- α6 integrin expression was dynamically upregulated in unclosed wounds and downregulated upon re-epithelialization.
- α6 integrin significantly increased in migratory epidermal cells, correlating with differentiation, while β1 integrin showed no significant correlation with migration.
Conclusions:
- α6 integrin expression level directly indicates epidermal cell differentiation.
- α6 integrin expression is a reliable indicator of wound-directed migration behaviors in epidermal cells.
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