Sodium dodecyl sulfate induces plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 expression in epidermal keratinocytes in vivo and in vitro

The detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate is a well-known inducer of irritant co ntact dermatitis. In this study we show that sodium dodecyl sulfate induces the serine proteinase inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2, i n epidermal keratinocytes. The enhancement in plasminogen activator inhibit or type 2 mRNA and antigen is observed both when sodium dodecyl sulfate is applied topically to normal human skin as well as when it is added to the g rowth medium of cultured human keratinocytes. In vitro, plasminogen activat or inhibitor type 2 mRNA is increased within 4-8 h after addition of the de tergent, and the increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 antigen occurs slightly later. The enhancing effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on p lasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 is not related to nonspecific cell ly sis nor is it secondary to induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Simila rities between our in vitro and in vivo findings lead us to hypothesize tha t sodium dodecyl sulfate may exert its effect on epidermal plasminogen acti vator inhibitor type 2 via interaction with the keratinocyte.