KERATINS AND SKIN DISORDERS

The epidermal keratinocytes express two major pairs of keratin polypep tides. One pair (K5/K14) expressed specifically in basal generative co mpartment and the other (K1/K10) expressed specifically in the differe ntiating suprabasal compartment. The switch in the expression of the k eratins from proliferating to differentiating compartment indicates th e changes that occur in the keratin filament organization which in tur n influences the functional properties of the epidermis. Proper regula tion of keratin gene expression and the filament organization are abso lutely necessary for normal functioning of the skin. Keratin gene muta tions can influence the filament integrity thereby causing several her itable blistering disorders of the skin such as epidermolysis bullosa, bullous icthyosiform erythroderma, etc. Changes in the keratin gene e xpression may lead to incomplete differentiation of the epidermal kera tinocyte, causing hyperproliferative diseases of the skin such as psor iasis, carcinomas, etc. This review briefly describes the changes in k eratin structure or gene expression that are known to result in variou s disorders of the skin. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited