Severe disruption and disorganization of dermal collagen fibrils in early striae gravidarum.

BACKGROUND: Striae gravidarum (SG), or stretch marks of pregnancy, begin as erythematous streaks and mature into hypopigmented atrophic bands. OBJECTIVES: In order to investigate molecular alterations that may promote atrophy of SG, we investigated dermal type I collagen fibrils, which provide human skin with support. METHODS: We obtained skin samples of recently developed, erythematous abdominal SG from pregnant women. To examine the organization of collagen fibrils, second-harmonic generation imaging was performed using multiphoton microscopy. Immunostaining was used to determine protein expression and localization of type I procollagen, the precursor of type I collagen fibrils. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine gene expression levels. RESULTS: In control (hip) and stretched normal-appearing perilesional abdominal skin, dermal collagen fibrils were organized as tightly packed, interwoven bundles. In SG, collagen bundles appeared markedly separated, especially in the mid-to-deep dermis. In the spaces separating these bundles, loosely packed wavy collagen fibrils lacking organization as bundles were present. These disorganized fibrils persisted into the postpartum period and failed to form densely packed bundles. Numerous large fibroblasts displaying type I procollagen expression were in close proximity to the disorganized fibrils, suggesting that the fibrils are newly synthesized. Supporting this possibility, immunostaining and gene expression of type I procollagen were increased throughout the dermis of SG. CONCLUSIONS: Early SG display marked separation of collagen bundles and emergence of disorganized collagen fibrils that fail to form bundles. These alterations may reflect ineffective repair of collagen bundles disrupted by intense skin stretching. Persistent disruption of the collagenous extracellular matrix likely promotes formation and atrophy of SG.

Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Retinoic acid has been shown to improve the aged-appearing skin. However, less is known about the anti-ageing effects of retinol (ROL, vitamin A), a precursor of retinoic acid, in aged human skin in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the molecular basis of ROL anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo. METHODS: Sun-protected buttock skin (76 ± 6 years old, n = 12) was topically treated with 0.4% ROL and its vehicle for 7 days. The effects of topical ROL on skin epidermis and dermis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, Northern analysis, real-time RT-PCR and Western analysis. Collagen fibrils nanoscale structure and surface topology were analysed by atomic force microscopy. RESULTS: Topical ROL shows remarkable anti-ageing effects through three major types of skin cells: epidermal keratinocytes, dermal endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Topical ROL significantly increased epidermal thickness by stimulating keratinocytes proliferation and upregulation of c-Jun transcription factor. In addition to epidermal changes, topical ROL significantly improved dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment; increasing dermal vascularity by stimulating endothelial cells proliferation and ECM production (type I collagen, fibronectin and elastin) by activating dermal fibroblasts. Topical ROL also stimulates TGF-ß/CTGF pathway, the major regulator of ECM homeostasis, and thus enriched the deposition of ECM in aged human skin in vivo. 0.4% topical ROL achieved similar results as seen with topical retinoic acid, the biologically active form of ROL, without causing noticeable signs of retinoid side effects. CONCLUSION: 0.4% topical ROL shows remarkable anti-ageing effects through improvement of the homeostasis of epidermis and dermis by stimulating the proliferation of keratinocytes and endothelial cells, and activating dermal fibroblasts. These data provide evidence that 0.4% topical ROL is a promising and safe treatment to improve the naturally aged human skin.

Marked disruption and aberrant regulation of elastic fibres in early striae gravidarum.

BACKGROUND: Striae gravidarum (SG), or 'stretch marks' of pregnancy, begin as erythematous streaks, and mature over months to years to become permanent scar-like bands that may be hypopigmented, atrophic and lax. OBJECTIVES: To investigate early molecular alterations that may promote laxity of mature SG, we investigated the dermal elastic fibre network, which provides human skin with elastic properties. METHODS: We obtained skin samples of newly developed, erythematous abdominal SG in healthy pregnant women. The elastic fibre network was examined by Verhoeff elastic staining and immunofluorescence staining of skin sections. Gene expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The normal elastic fibre network appeared markedly disrupted in SG, compared with perilesional abdominal skin or control (normal-appearing hip skin). This disruption was accompanied by the emergence of short, disorganized, thin, thread-like 'fibrils', which were observed prominently in the mid-to-deep dermis. These fibrils were rich in tropoelastin (the main component of normal elastic fibres), and persisted into the postpartum period without forming normal-appearing elastic fibres. The emergence of these fibrils was accompanied by increased gene expression of tropoelastin and fibrillin-1, but not other elastic fibre components, including fibrillin-2 and fibulin-1, -2 or -5. CONCLUSIONS: In early SG, the elastic fibre network appears markedly disrupted, and newly synthesized tropoelastin-rich fibrils emerge, likely as a result of uncoordinated synthesis of elastic fibre components. Because they are thin and disorganized, tropoelastin-rich fibrils likely do not function as normal elastic fibres do. These observations provide the foundations for elucidating pathogenic mechanisms by which laxity may develop in SG.

Etanercept suppresses regenerative hyperplasia in psoriasis by acutely downregulating epidermal expression of interleukin (IL)-19, IL-20 and IL-24.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a Th17/Th1-mediated skin disease that often responds to antitumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapies, such as etanercept. OBJECTIVES: To better define mechanisms by which etanercept improves psoriasis and to gain insight into disease pathogenesis. METHODS: We investigated the early biochemical and cellular effects of etanercept on skin lesions in responder patients prior to substantial clinical improvement (≤ 4 weeks). RESULTS: By 1 week, etanercept acutely suppressed gene expression of the interleukin (IL)-20 subfamily of cytokines (IL-19, IL-20, IL-24), which were found to be predominantly epidermis-derived and which are implicated in stimulating epidermal hyperplasia. Additionally, by 1 week of therapy, suppression of other keratinocyte-derived products (chemokines, antimicrobial proteins) occurred, while suppression of epidermal regenerative hyperplasia occurred within 1-3 weeks. Th17 elements (IL-23p19, IL-12p40, IL-17A, IL-22) were suppressed by 3-4 weeks. In vitro, TNF-α and IL-17A coordinately stimulated the expression of the IL-20 subfamily in normal keratinocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the rapid suppression of regenerative hyperplasia, chemokines and other keratinocyte-derived products, including the IL-20 subfamily, we propose that epidermal activation is a very early target of etanercept. As many of these keratinocyte markers are stimulated by TNF-α, their rapid downregulation is likely to reflect etanercept's antagonism of TNF-α. Additionally, decreased epidermal hyperplasia might result specifically from acute suppression of the IL-20 subfamily, which is also a likely consequence of etanercept's antagonism of TNF-α. Thus, the IL-20 subfamily has potential importance in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and therapeutic response to etanercept.

Ultraviolet irradiation of human skin causes functional vitamin A deficiency, preventable by all-trans retinoic acid pre-treatment.

We report here that ultraviolet irradiation substantially reduced the mRNA and protein of the two major nuclear retinoid receptors, RAR-gamma and RXR-alpha, in human skin in vivo. Pre-treatment with retinoic acid mitigated this loss of nuclear retinoid receptors. Ultraviolet irradiation caused a near-total loss of retinoic acid induction of two RAR/RXR target genes, cellular retinoic acid binding protein-II and RA 4-hydroxylase, but did not affect 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induction of the vitamin D receptor/RXR-regulated gene vitamin D 24-hydroxylase. In effect, ultraviolet irradiation causes a functional vitamin A deficiency that may have deleterious effects on skin function, contributing to skin photo-aging and carcinogenesis.

Overexpression of transforming growth factor alpha in psoriatic epidermis.

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is produced by and required for the growth of epithelial cells and is angiogenic in vivo. Since epidermal hyperplasia and angiogenesis are hallmarks of psoriasis, TGF-alpha gene expression was analyzed in epidermal biopsies of normal and psoriatic skin. TGF-alpha messenger RNA and protein are much more abundant in lesional psoriatic epidermis than in normal-appearing skin of psoriatic patients or in normal epidermis. In contrast, messenger RNA levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), which inhibits epithelial cell growth, are not significantly different in normal, uninvolved, and lesional psoriatic epidermis. Thus, psoriatic epidermal hyperplasia may involve increased expression of a keratinocyte mitogen (TGF-alpha) rather than deficient expression of a growth inhibitor (TGF-beta 1).

Vascular tube formation on matrix metalloproteinase-1-damaged collagen.

Connective tissue damage and angiogenesis are both important features of tumour growth and invasion. Here, we show that endothelial cells maintained on a three-dimensional lattice of intact polymerised collagen formed a monolayer of cells with a cobblestone morphology. When the collagen was exposed to organ culture fluid from human basal cell tumours of the skin (containing a high level of active matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1)), degradation of the collagen matrix occurred. The major degradation products were the $3 over 4$- and $1 over 4$-sized fragments known to result from the action of MMP-1 on type I collagen. When endothelial cells were maintained on the partially degraded collagen, the cells organised into a network of vascular tubes. Pretreatment of the organ culture fluid with either tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) or neutralising antibody to MMP-1 prevented degradation of the collagen lattice and concomitantly inhibited endothelial cell organisation into the vascular network. Purified (activated) MMP-1 duplicated the effects of skin organ culture fluid, but other enzymes including MMP-9 (gelatinase B), elastase or trypsin failed to produce measurable fragments from intact collagen and also failed to promote vascular tube formation. Together, these studies suggest that damage to the collagenous matrix is itself an important inducer of new vessel formation.

c-Jun-dependent inhibition of cutaneous procollagen transcription following ultraviolet irradiation is reversed by all-trans retinoic acid.

The aged appearance of skin following repeated exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation stems largely from damage to cutaneous connective tissue, which is composed primarily of type I and type III collagens. We report here that a single exposure to UV irradiation causes significant loss of procollagen synthesis in human skin. Expression of type I and type III procollagens is substantially reduced within 24 hours after a single UV exposure, even at UV doses that cause only minimal skin reddening. Daily UV exposures over 4 days result in sustained reductions of both type I and type III procollagen protein levels for at least 24 hours after the final UV exposure. UV inhibition of type I procollagen synthesis is mediated in part by c-Jun, which is induced by UV irradiation and interferes with procollagen transcription. Pretreatment of human skin in vivo with all-trans retinoic acid inhibits UV induction of c-Jun and protects skin against loss of procollagen synthesis. We have reported previously that UV irradiation induces matrix-degrading metalloproteinases in human skin and that pretreatment of skin with all-trans retinoic acid inhibits this induction. UV irradiation, therefore, damages human skin connective tissue by simultaneously inhibiting procollagen synthesis and stimulating collagen breakdown. All-trans retinoic acid protects against both of these deleterious effects and may thereby retard premature skin aging.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in normal and psoriatic epidermis.

The objective of these studies was to characterize the IL-1 inhibitory activity present in normal and psoriatic epidermis from clinically stable lesions. Fractionation of normal epidermal cytosol on a molecular sizing column failed to reveal the presence of IL-1 inhibitory bioactivity. However, specific ELISAs indicated that both the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and IL-1 alpha were present in overlapping peaks. Further fractionation of the normal epidermal cytosol by anion exchange chromatography separated these two molecules, revealing the IL-1 inhibitory bioactivity of the IL-1ra molecule. Similar studies on psoriatic epidermal cytosol indicated the presence of IL-1 inhibitory bioactivity and IL-1ra protein. The IL-1 inhibitory bioactivity of both normal and psoriatic cytosol was neutralized by a mAb specific for IL-1ra. The ratio of IL-1ra to IL-1 alpha proteins was significantly increased in involved psoriatic skin compared with normal skin. By Western blot analysis this IL-1ra was approximately 20 kD, slightly larger than monocyte-derived IL-1ra and equivalent to an intracellular variant of IL-1ra expressed by keratinocytes. Polymerase chain reaction indicated the presence of mRNA for both forms of IL-1ra in normal epidermis, with both forms increased in psoriatic-involved skin. Immunofluorescence studies revealed the IL-1ra protein to be concentrated in the stratum granulosum of normal skin and in the basal-midbasal layers of psoriatic epidermis. These results suggest that the balance between intracellular IL-1ra and IL-1 alpha may be an important influence on keratinocyte growth and/or differentiation, as well as on the inflammatory potential of IL-1 in injured skin.

Retinoic acid inhibits induction of c-Jun protein by ultraviolet radiation that occurs subsequent to activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in human skin in vivo.

Human skin is exposed daily to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV induces the matrix metalloproteinases collagenase, 92-kD gelatinase, and stromelysin, which degrade skin connective tissue and may contribute to premature skin aging (photoaging). Pretreatment of skin with all-trans retinoic acid (tRA) inhibits UV induction of matrix metalloproteinases. We investigated upstream signal transduction pathways and the mechanism of tRA inhibition of UV induction of matrix metalloproteinases in human skin in vivo. Exposure of human skin in vivo to low doses of UV activated EGF receptors, the GTP-binding regulatory protein p21Ras, and stimulated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Both JNK and p38 phosphorylated, and thereby activated transcription factors c-Jun and activating transcription factor 2 (ATF-2), which bound to the c-Jun promoter and upregulated c-Jun gene expression. Elevated c-Jun, in association with constitutively expressed c-Fos, formed increased levels of transcription factor activator protein (AP) 1, which is required for transcription of matrix metalloproteinases. Pretreatment of human skin with tRA inhibited UV induction of c-Jun protein and, consequently, AP-1. c-Jun protein inhibition occurred via a posttranscriptional mechanism, since tRA did not inhibit UV induction of c-Jun mRNA. These data demonstrate, for the first time, activation of MAP kinase pathways in humans in vivo, and reveal a novel posttranscriptional mechanism by which tRA antagonizes UV activation of AP-1 by inhibiting c-Jun protein induction. Inhibition of c-Jun induction likely contributes to the previously reported prevention by tRA of UV induction of AP-1-regulated matrix-degrading metalloproteinases in human skin.

Ubiquitin/proteasome pathway regulates levels of retinoic acid receptor gamma and retinoid X receptor alpha in human keratinocytes.

Repeated exposure of human skin to solar UV radiation leads to premature aging (photoaging) and skin cancer. UV-induced skin damage can be ameliorated by all-trans retinoic acid treatment. The actions of retinoic acid in skin keratinocytes are mediated primarily by nuclear retinoic acid receptor gamma (RARgamma) and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha). We found that exposure of cultured primary human keratinocytes to UV irradiation (30 mJ/cm2) substantially reduced (50-90%) RARgamma and RXRalpha mRNA and protein within 8 h. The rates of disappearance of RARgamma and RXRalpha proteins after UV exposure or treatment with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide were similar. UV irradiation did not increase the rate of breakdown of RARgamma or RXRalpha but rather reduced their rate of synthesis. The addition of proteasome inhibitors MG132 and LLvL, but not the lysosomal inhibitor E64, prevented loss of RARgamma and RXRalpha proteins after exposure of keratinocytes to either UV radiation or cycloheximide. Soluble extracts from nonirradiated or UV-irradiated keratinocytes possessed similar levels of proteasome activity that degraded RARgamma and RXRalpha proteins in vitro. Furthermore, RARgamma and RXRalpha were polyubiquitinated in intact cells. RXRalpha was found to contain two proline, glutamate/aspartate, serine, and threonine (PEST) motifs, which confer rapid turnover of many short-lived regulatory proteins that are degraded by the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. However, the PEST motifs in RXRalpha did not function to regulate its stability, because deletion of the PEST motifs individually or together did not alter ubiquitination or proteasome-mediated degradation of RXRalpha. These results demonstrate that loss of RARgamma and RXRalpha proteins after UV irradiation results from degradation via the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. Taken together, the data here indicate that ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated breakdown is an important mechanism regulating the levels of nuclear retinoid receptors.

Effect of membrane fatty acid composition on radiosensitivity of V79 Chinese hamster cells.

Exponentially growing V79-379A Chinese hamster fibroblasts were transferred to low-lipid medium enriched with a single fatty acid of the C18 series. After 24 h at 37 degrees C, the fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography of the corresponding methyl esters for the total lipid extracts of the cells and for the nuclear membrane fraction. Radiation survival curves, based upon a clonogenic assay, were obtained by irradiation with low dose-rate 60Co gamma rays at either 4 degrees C or room temperature. We observe no effect of fatty acid upon radiosensitivity of these cells at either temperature, in confirmation of published reports with other mammalian cell lines.

Mechanism of cholesterol side-chain cleavage. II. The enzymic hydroperoxide-glycol rearrangement of the epimeric 20-hydroperxycholesterols in 18O-enriched water.

Incubation of 20 alpha-hydroperoxycholesterol (I) and its 20 beta-isomer, 20 beta-hydroperoxy-20 isocholesterol (II) with adrenocortical mitochondrial preparations in the absence of molecular oxygen, in normal and 18O-enriched water, gave 20 alpha, 22R-dihydroxycholesterol (III) from I and 20 beta,21-dihydroxy-20-iso-cholesterol (IV) from II. Mass spectral analysis of the persilylated glycol products III and IV showed no uptake of 18O, indicating that the oxygen atoms of the C20-, C22- and C21-hydroxyl groups originated from the 20-hydroperoxy atomic oxygen complex is the intermediate in the enzymic oxidative reactions of cholesterol side-chain cleavage.

Phosphatidic acid and phospholipase D both stimulate phosphoinositide turnover in cultured human keratinocytes.

Phosphatidic acid (PA) induced a rapid dose-dependent increase in production of inositol phosphates in cultured adult human keratinocytes, peaking at 30 s. Natural and dioleoyl PA were equally effective, while other phospholipid classes had no effect. Lipid A was also active. Lyso-PA also induced inositol phosphate production, but contamination of the PA preparation by lyso-PA could not account for the effect of PA. The effect of PA could not be reproduced by treatment of cells with calcium ionophore. PA-induced inositol phosphate production could be inhibited (> 50%) by pre-treatment of cells with either pertussis toxin or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, suggesting the involvement of a GTP-binding protein and a protein kinase C-mediated negative feedback mechanism. PA also stimulated release of arachidonic acid from keratinocytes. Treatment of cells with exogenous phospholipase D similarly induced inositol phosphate production in the keratinocytes. Since PA may be formed by receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase D, or by phosphorylation of diacylglycerol, the results suggest that PA may play a significant role in signalling mechanisms of human keratinocytes.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 increases nuclear vitamin D3 receptors by blocking ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation in human skin.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (D3) exerts its effects by binding to and activating nuclear vitamin D3 receptors (VDRs) that regulate transcription of target genes. We have investigated regulation of VDR levels in human skin in vivo and in cultured human keratinocytes. Quantitative ligand-binding analysis revealed that human skin expressed approximately 220 VDRs per cell, which bound D3 with high affinity [(dissociation constant (Kd) = 0.22 nM]. In human skin nuclear extracts, VDR exclusively bound to DNA containing vitamin D3 response elements as heterodimers with retinoid X receptors. Topical application of D3 to human skin elevated VDR protein levels 2-fold, as measured by both ligand-binding and DNA-binding assays. In contrast, the D3 analog calcipotriene had no effect on VDR levels. Topical D3 had no effect on VDR mRNA, indicating that D3 either stimulated synthesis and/or inhibited degradation of VDRs. To investigate this latter possibility, recombinant VDRs were incubated with skin lysates in the presence or absence of D3. The presence of D3 substantially protected VDRs against degradation by human skin lysates. VDR degradation was inhibited by proteasome inhibitors, but not lysosome or serine protease inhibitors. In cultured keratinocytes, D3 or proteasome inhibitors increased VDR protein without affecting VDR mRNA levels. In cells, VDR was ubiquitinated and this ubiquitination was inhibited by D3. Proteasome inhibitors in combination with D3 enhanced VDR-mediated gene expression, as measured by induction of vitamin D3 24-hydroxylase mRNA in cultured keratinocytes. Taken together, our findings indicate that low VDR levels are maintained, in part, through ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation and that low VDR levels limit D3 signaling. D3 exerts dual positive influences on its nuclear receptor, simultaneously stimulating VDR transactivation activity and retarding VDR degradation.

A novel histone-stimulated protein kinase in normal and psoriatic epidermis.

During the course of studies on protein kinases in psoriatic epidermis, a novel histone-activated protein kinase activity was identified. This activity (referred to as PK-II because it was the second peak of protein kinase activity eluted from a DEAE column) was partially purified from the supernatant of an epidermal homogenate by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Although histone was not a substrate for phosphorylation, in the presence of histone, endogenous proteins of Mr 105 and 95 kDa were phosphorylated. Activity was not affected by Ca2+/phospholipid, cAMP, cGMP, cAMP-dependent kinase inhibitor, spermine, spermidine, calmodulin, EGF, or phorbol ester. Phosphorylation was specific for serine and threonine residues. A major peak of PK-II activity eluted from sepharose 6B with an apparent Mr of 100 kDa, suggesting that histone may stimulate autophosphorylation. The properties of PK-II resemble those recently described for a class of polypeptide-dependent protein kinases isolated from placenta, Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, and bakers' yeast. PK-II was significantly higher in psoriatic involved epidermis (32.6 +/- 11.6 pmol/min/mg protein) compared to psoriatic uninvolved epidermis (5.7 +/- 0.6 pmol/min/mg; p = 0.03) and normal epidermis (9.5 +/- 2.2 pmol/min/mg; p = 0.05). The function of histone stimulated protein kinase in epidermal function and its role in the pathophysiology of psoriasis remain to be explored.

Elevated thymidine phosphorylase activity in psoriatic lesions accounts for the apparent presence of an epidermal "growth inhibitor," but is not in itself growth inhibitory.

An apparent tissue-specific growth inhibitor, or chalone, obtained from psoriatic lesions was tentatively identified in the 100-kDa fraction based upon inhibition of DNA synthesis, as measured by [3H]-thymidine uptake by a squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SCC 38. This fraction, however, failed to inhibit SCC 38 cell growth when assessed directly in a neutral red uptake assay. Characterization of the inhibitor of [3H]-thymidine uptake revealed it to have biochemical properties identical to thymidine phosphorylase: 1) molecular weight close to 100 kDa, 2) isoelectric point of 4.2, and 3) thymidine phosphorylase enzyme activity. Thus, we conclude that its ability to inhibit [3H]-thymidine uptake was due to thymidine catabolism rather than inhibition of DNA synthesis or growth inhibition. Examination of thymidine phosphorylase activity in keratome biopsies from psoriatic and normal skin demonstrated a twentyfold increase in activity in psoriatic lesions relative to non-lesional or normal skin. This increase in metabolism of thymidine was due to thymidine phosphorylase rather than uridine phosphorylase activity. The correlation between increased thymidine phosphorylase activity and increased keratinocyte proliferation in vitro (cultured) and in vivo (psoriasis), suggests that this enzyme may play a critical role in providing the thymidine necessary for keratinocyte proliferation.

GTP-dependent hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate by soluble phospholipase C from adult human epidermis.

The regulation of soluble phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C from adult human epidermis by guanine nucleotide was investigated. In the presence of physiologic concentrations of Ca++ (1 microM) and Mg++ (1.5 mM), neither phosphatidylinositol (PI) nor phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) were appreciably hydrolyzed. Addition of guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP) or guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-gamma-S) significantly stimulated hydrolysis of PIP2, but not PI. Stimulation of PIP2 hydrolysis by GTP was dose-dependent between 1-100 microM GTP. Other nucleoside triphosphates and nucleotide analogues were unable to substitute for GTP or GTP-gamma-S. A GTP-gamma-S-stimulated PIP2 hydrolysis was inhibited by guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate (GDP-beta-S). The phospholipase C preparation specifically bound [35S]GTP-gamma-S and this binding was also inhibited by GDP-beta-S. In addition to a 41,000-dalton pertussis toxin substrate, the phospholipase C preparation contained 3-4 GTP binding proteins with molecular weights between 20,000-30,000. These data demonstrate that human epidermis contains a soluble GTP-dependent phospholipase C activity that specifically hydrolyzes PIP2 and suggest that this reaction is regulated by a GTP-binding protein(s).

Purification and characterization of calcium/phospholipid-dependent kinase from adult human epidermis.

Tumor-promoting phorbol esters such as 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) cause epidermal inflammation and hyperplasia similar to that observed in psoriasis. Recent evidence suggests that these effects are mediated by a calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), which is quantitatively the major cellular phorbol ester receptor. This report describes the partial purification and biochemical properties of this enzyme from adult human epidermis. Protein kinase C activity was purified 30-fold from high speed supernatants prepared from homogenates of keratome biopsies obtained from healthy volunteers. The partially purified preparation had a specific activity of 1.2 nmol/min/mg protein and an apparent molecular weight of 79,400. Activity was dependent on the presence of calcium and phosphatidylserine. At low calcium concentration (less than 0.1 mM) activity was greatly stimulated by 1,2-dioleoylglycerol. TPA mimicked the effect of diglyceride on enzyme activity, and the partially purified enzyme specifically bound phorbol dibutyrate (Kd = 2 nM). Protein kinase C activity was also present in the membrane fraction from adult human epidermis, and possessed properties similar to those of the cytosolic enzyme. We conclude that protein kinase C is present in human epidermis and is activated by TPA in a manner similar to that described for this enzyme from other tissues. These data lay the foundation for studying the role of protein kinase C in the regulation of epidermal growth and maturation.