Related Experiment Videos
Keratinocytes in human wounds express alpha v beta 6 integrin
K Haapasalmi1, K Zhang, M Tonnesen
1Department of Oral Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Alpha v beta 6 integrin expression is induced in human wound healing, appearing late as epithelial sheets fuse. This integrin binds fibronectin and tenascin, crucial for tissue repair.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Dermatology
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Integrin family cell adhesion receptors are vital for re-epithelialization in human wounds.
- Previous studies documented alpha v family integrin induction in mucosal wound keratinocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of alpha v beta 6 integrin during human wound healing.
- To examine the localization of alpha v beta 6 integrin and its ligands in mucosal and epidermal wounds.
Main Methods:
- Immunolocalization of integrins and ligands on human wound sections (1-7 days old).
- In vitro study of integrin expression in freshly isolated and subcultured epidermal keratinocytes.
Main Results:
- Alpha v beta 6 integrin expression was detected late in mucosal and dermal wound healing, peaking at 7 days.
- Maximal expression coincided with epithelial sheet fusion and granulation tissue formation.
- Fibronectin and tenascin, potential ligands, were concentrated beneath basal epithelial cells expressing alpha v beta 6 integrin.
- Freshly isolated keratinocytes lacked alpha v beta 6 integrin but expressed it upon subculturing.
Conclusions:
- Alpha v beta 6 integrin expression is induced in keratinocytes during human wound healing, particularly as epithelial sheets fuse.
- The expression pattern suggests a role for alpha v beta 6 integrin in binding fibronectin and tenascin during tissue repair.