Epidermal differentiation is characterized by a series of coordinated morphological and biochemical changes which result in a highly specialized, highly organized, stratified squamous epithelium. Among the specific markers expressed in differentiating epidermis are (a) two early spinous cell proteins, keratins 1 and 10 (K1 and K10); and (b) two later granular cell proteins, filaggrin and a cornified envelope precursor (CE). In vitro, epidermal basal cells are selectively cultured in 0.05 mM Ca2+ medium, and terminal differentiation is induced when the Ca2+ concentration is increased to 1 mM. However, only a small fraction of the cells express the markers K1, K10, CE, or filaggrin in the higher Ca2+ medium. To explore the factors required for marker expression, cultured epidermal cells were exposed to intermediate Ca2+ concentrations and extracts were analyzed using specific antibody and nucleic acid probes for the four markers of interest. These studies revealed that marker expression was enhanced at a restricted concentration of Ca2+ in the medium of 0.10-0.16 mM. At this Ca2+ concentration, both protein and mRNA levels for each marker were substantially increased, whereas at higher or lower Ca2+ concentrations they were diminished or undetected. The percentage of cells expressing each marker was increased two- to threefold in the permissive Ca2+ medium as determined by immunofluorescence analysis. This optimal level of Ca2+ was required both to initiate and sustain marker expression. At the permissive Ca2+ concentration, expression of the markers was sequential and similar to the order of appearance in vivo. K1 was expressed within 8-12 h and K10 was expressed in the ensuing 12-24-h period. CE and filaggrin were expressed in the subsequent 24 h. Inhibition of K1 expression by cycloheximide suggested that an inducible protein was involved. Other investigators have determined that a shallow Ca2+ gradient exists in epidermis, where the basal cells and spinous cells are in a Ca2+ environment substantially below serum Ca2+ levels. These in vitro results suggest that the Ca2+ environment is a fundamental regulator of expression of epidermal differentiation markers and provide an explanation for the existence of the Ca2+ gradient in vivo.
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September 01 1989
Expression of murine epidermal differentiation markers is tightly regulated by restricted extracellular calcium concentrations in vitro.
S H Yuspa,
S H Yuspa
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
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A E Kilkenny,
A E Kilkenny
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
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P M Steinert,
P M Steinert
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
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D R Roop
D R Roop
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
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S H Yuspa
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
A E Kilkenny
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
P M Steinert
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
D R Roop
Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
J Cell Biol (1989) 109 (3): 1207–1217.
Citation
S H Yuspa, A E Kilkenny, P M Steinert, D R Roop; Expression of murine epidermal differentiation markers is tightly regulated by restricted extracellular calcium concentrations in vitro.. J Cell Biol 1 September 1989; 109 (3): 1207–1217. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.109.3.1207
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