KERATINOCYTES IN HUMAN WOUNDS EXPRESS ALPHA-V-BETA-6 INTEGRIN

Citation
K. Haapasalmi et al., KERATINOCYTES IN HUMAN WOUNDS EXPRESS ALPHA-V-BETA-6 INTEGRIN, Journal of investigative dermatology, 106(1), 1996, pp. 42-48
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
ISSN journal
0022202X
Volume
106
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Pages
42 - 48
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-202X(1996)106:1<42:KIHWEA>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
Cell adhesion receptors of the integrin family play a major role durin g re-epithelialization of human wounds. We have previously documented that the expression of alpha v family integrins is induced in keratino cytes of mucosal wounds [1]. In the present investigation, we extended these studies to determine whether alpha v beta 6 integrin is express ed during wound healing in humans. Mucosal and epidermal wound section s from 1- to 7-day-old wounds were used for immunolocalization of inte grins and their putative ligands. In addition, freshly isolated epider mal keratinocytes were used to study integrin expression in vitro. Exp ression of alpha v beta 6 integrin appeared relatively late during muc osal and dermal wound healing. Maximal expression was seen in 7-day-ol d wounds in which epithelial sheets had fused and granulation tissue w as present. Fibronectin and tenascin, both possible ligands for alpha v beta 6 integrin, were found concentrated underneath the basal epithe lial cells expressing this receptor, and the maximal expression of ten ascin coincided with that of alpha v beta 6 integrin. Freshly isolated epidermal keratinocytes did not stain for alpha v beta 6 integrin but began to express this integrin after subculturing. Our results sugges t that the expression of alpha v beta 6 integrin, a putative binding i ntegrin for fibronectin and tenascin, is induced in keratinocytes when epithelial sheets fuse during wound healing.