A novel polypeptide p10 expressed in tumor-promoter-treated murine epidermis and in untreated neonatal murine epidermis

12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) has been shown to induce a broa d variety of morphological and metabolic changes in mouse skin. These inclu de gross changes in cell growth as well as subtle changes regarding gene ex pression. Changes in the induction of specific proteins have been described but it is not yet clear, if there exists a strict causal correlation betwe en the induction of expression of specific proteins and the phenomenon of t umor promotion. At least some of these proteins might also be correlated wi th an accompanying hyperproliferative Effect. This has been shown for prote in p10 a 10 kDa protein not found in untreated adult mouse epidermis. The e xpression of this protein can be induced de novo after the topical administ ration of TPA. It is also shown, that p10 is expressed in untreated neonata l murine epidermis. Due to the induction of this protein by irritation, hyp erproliferation-causing tumor promoters and due to the observable abundance in neonatal epidermis, this protein seems not strictly related to tumor pr omotion, but rather to proliferation and differentiation.