Migration of a human keratinocyte cell line (HACAT) to interstitial collagen type I is mediated by the alpha 2 beta 1-integrin receptor.

The migratory response of the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT to collagen type I and the molecular mechanism underlying collagen-mediated migration have been analyzed. The migratory response of HaCaT cells to collagen type I consisted of a dose-dependent migration to insoluble step gradients of substratum-bound collagen (haptotaxis) and to gradients of soluble collagen (chemotaxis). Checkerboard analysis demonstrated a minor chemokinetic component. Denatured collagen type I was less chemoattractive than the native triple-helical form. Pre-treatment of cells with 25-250 micrograms/ml of synthetic peptides containing the fibronectin cell-recognition sequence RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of fibronectin-mediated chemotaxis, whereas chemotaxis to collagen was not affected. We then investigated the role of VLA/collagen-receptors for collagen type I-induced chemotaxis. Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 5E8, which selectively blocks function of the alpha 2 subunit of the VLA-2/collagen receptor, dose-dependently inhibited the chemotactic response of HaCaT cells to collagen. This effect was specific for collagen-mediated chemotaxis because the chemotactic response to fibronectin remained unaffected. In contrast, a function blocking MoAb directed to the alpha 3 subunit of the coexpressed VLA-3 receptor, which is also capable of binding collagen, had no effect. However, function blocking MoAb directed to the beta 1-chain of integrins completely inhibited chemotaxis to collagen type I. Based on our results, we propose that the chemotactic migration of the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) to collagen type I is specifically mediated by the RGD independent VLA-2/collagen receptor (alpha 2 beta 1) of the integrin family.

Transcriptional control of high molecular weight keratin gene expression in multistage mouse skin carcinogenesis.

Monospecific antikeratin antisera and specific complementary DNA probes were used to analyze expression of keratin genes in newborn mouse skin and skin papillomas and carcinomas by indirect immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and in situ hybridization. Tumors were induced by initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Type I epidermal keratin K14 protein (Mr 55,000) is found in all living layers of the newborn skin but is most abundant in the lower strata. K1 (Mr 67,000) and K10 (Mr 59,000) proteins are predominantly suprabasal and K1 is processed in the stratum corneum. Transcripts for K14 were confined largely to the basal cell layer by in situ hybridization. Transcripts for K1 and K10 were highly expressed in suprabasal cells including the granular cell layer. In benign tumors, distribution of K14 protein is similar to that in newborn skin, while the abundance of K1 and K10 appears to be somewhat reduced although the tissue distribution remains suprabasal. Transcription of K14 is aberrant in benign tumors and transcripts persist throughout much of the suprabasal cell layers. Transcripts of K1 and K10 are normally distributed in papillomas but grain density is less intense than in newborn epidermis. Keratin expression in carcinomas is highly disturbed. K14 protein and transcripts are highly expressed in all strata in carcinomas while protein and transcripts for K1 and K10 are essentially absent. These results suggest that papilloma cells fail to respond to or generate signals to regulate K14 expression in the differentiating suprabasal cell layers and may not fully express their suprabasal cell keratins. Carcinomas fail to express suprabasal cell keratins and this is regulated at the transcriptional level. The loss of suprabasal keratin expression may provide a marker for malignant conversion in the mouse skin carcinogenesis model.

Molecular cloning of mouse epidermal cystatin A and detection of regulated expression in differentiation and tumorigenesis.

A gamma gt 11 cDNA expression library representing mouse epidermis mRNA was screened with polyclonal rabbit antiserum directed against 10-13 kDa epidermal antigens that had previously been shown to be regulated during epidermal differentiation. A cDNA clone was detected and isolated and its identity as the coding sequence for one of the antigens was confirmed by translation of hybrid-selected mRNA from mouse epidermis. The cDNA sequence predicted a peptide homologous to the reported sequence of rat epidermis cystatin A, a thiol proteinase inhibitor. This identification was confirmed by cross-reactivity of the gamma clone fusion protein with authentic antiserum to rat epidermis cystatin A. Southern gel analysis showed that mouse DNA may contain several closely related genes homologous to the cystatin probe. An mRNA of about 0.6 kb from epidermis and cultured mouse epidermal cells hybridized with the cystatin probe on northern analysis. The abundance of the message was high in cultured basal cells and was selectively diminished by inducing terminal differentiation in culture with an elevated Ca2+ concentration in the medium. Cystatin message was abundant in chemically induced mouse skin papillomas but reduced in carcinomas. In epidermis, mRNA was localized to the less differentiated basal and lower spinous layers by in situ hybridization. Regulation of expression of cystatin A in epidermis and tumors suggests that it may be important in the control of normal keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and in malignant conversion.

Organization of a type I keratin gene. Evidence for evolution of intermediate filaments from a common ancestral gene.

The genomic structure of the mouse 59-kDa keratin gene, a Type I intermediate filament (IF) gene is presented. A comparison of the organization of this gene with that of the human 67-kDa keratin, a Type II IF gene, and hamster vimentin, a Type III IF gene, suggests a common evolutionary origin for Type I, II, and III IF genes. Most introns in these three types of IF genes occur at similar positions within the region encoding sequences predicted to form coiled-coils, but do not delineate structural subdomains. Interestingly though, most of the introns interrupt at or near the beginning of the characteristic 7-residue (heptad) repeat of sequences which form the coiled-coil. These data suggest that the three types of IF genes arose from a common ancestor which may have been assembled from smaller units containing multiple heptad repeats. Subsequent duplication events may then have formed the three known alpha-helical types and each of their various members.