Calcium induced differentiation of SV40 immortalized human epidermal keratinocytes cultured in a defined medium.
Human epidermal keratinocytes, immortalized by the introduction of SV40-adenovirus recombinants (9), were maintained in a low calcium (0.15 mM) defined medium. When differentiation was induced by a higher extracellular calcium concentration (1.5 mM), these cells altered in shape and developed stratification with formation of desmosomes, while they demonstrated limited terminal keratinization. The expression of involucrin, one of the precursor proteins of the cornified envelope, became elevated as the cell density increased, but was not affected by calcium. These results indicate that the SV40 immortalized human keratinocytes, maintained in a low calcium defined medium, partially respond to changes in extracellular calcium concentration.
Inokuchi
S
S
Department of Critical and Emergency Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Ueda
M
M
Hashimoto
K
K
Handa
H
H
Mitomi
T
T
D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis*; D013539:Simian virus 40
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D011498:Protein Precursors; C032253:involucrin; D007633:Keratins; D002118:Calcium