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Updated: Jul 22, 2026
10:51
Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin
Published on: July 14, 2017
Keratinocytes become terminally differentiated in a process involving programmed cell death
Y Maruoka1, H Harada, T Mitsuyasu
1Second Department of Oral Anatomy and Cell Biology, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|October 23, 1997
Summary
Terminal differentiation of oral keratinocytes, involving Bcl-xL and Bax protein expression, leads to programmed cell death (apoptosis). High calcium levels induce this differentiation pathway, culminating in apoptosis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Oral Biology
- Apoptosis Research
Background:
- Oral keratinocytes undergo differentiation and shedding.
- The link between terminal differentiation and apoptosis in oral keratinocytes is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis.
- To examine the expression of Bcl-xL and Bax during keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Cultured human keratinocytes were exposed to varying calcium concentrations (0.1 mM and 1.0 mM).
- Expression of Bcl-xL and Bax proteins was analyzed.
- Apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL method and DNA fragmentation analysis.
Main Results:
- Bcl-xL was expressed in low calcium conditions, while Bax expression increased in high calcium conditions.
- High calcium induced keratinocyte differentiation and subsequent apoptosis.
- TUNEL assay and DNA fragmentation confirmed apoptosis in high calcium-treated cells.
Conclusions:
- Terminal differentiation of gingival epithelial cells is a pathway to apoptosis.
- Bcl-xL and Bax play roles in regulating apoptosis during keratinocyte differentiation.
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