title: Activation of rabbit keratinocyte fibronectin receptor function in vivo during wound healing.
abstract: Freshly isolated rabbit keratinocytes expressed low fibronectin (pFN) receptor function as shown by their poor ability to attach and spread on pFN-coated substrata or to bind and ingest pFN-coated beads. Following in vitro culture of these cells, however, pFN receptor function was activated. The cultured cells appeared to be normal, based on their ability to reepithelialize rapidly full-thickness cutaneous wound beds. Freshly isolated keratinocytes that had low pFN receptor function were autotransplanted onto full-thickness wound beds. Two days after transplantation, keratinocytes recovered from these wounds were observed to express increased pFN receptor function. This activity was maximal in keratinocytes isolated 3 days after transplantation and declined in keratinocytes isolated at later times. By 10 days after transplantation, the transplanted cells had formed a multilayered hyperplastic epidermis and reconstituted their laminin and type IV collagen-containing basement membrane. It is proposed that initiation of pFN receptor function in keratinocytes is a crucial mechanism necessary for them to attach to and migrate through the pFN-rich wound bed comprised of granulation tissue. After reepithelialization is complete, and the basement membrane re-forms, pFN receptor function declines markedly because it is no longer essential to the cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000502:physiology*; D007633:Keratins; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011817:Rabbits; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D007633:Keratins