title: Keratinocytes in human wounds express alpha v beta 6 integrin.
abstract: Cell adhesion receptors of the integrin family play a major role during re-epithelialization of human wounds. We have previously documented that the expression of alpha v family integrins is induced in keratinocytes of mucosal wounds [1]. In the present investigation, we extended these studies to determine whether alpha v beta 6 integrin is expressed during wound healing in humans. Mucosal and epidermal wound sections from 1- to 7-day-old wounds were used for immunolocalization of integrins and their putative ligands. In addition, freshly isolated epidermal keratinocytes were used to study integrin expression in vitro. Expression of alpha v beta 6 integrin appeared relatively late during mucosal and dermal wound healing. Maximal expression was seen in 7-day-old wounds in which epithelial sheets had fused and granulation tissue was present. Fibronectin and tenascin, both possible ligands for alpha v beta 6 integrin, were found concentrated underneath the basal epithelial cells expressing this receptor, and the maximal expression of tenascin coincided with that of alpha v beta 6 integrin. Freshly isolated epidermal keratinocytes did not stain for alpha v beta 6 integrin but began to express this integrin after subculturing. Our results suggest that the expression of alpha v beta 6 integrin, a putative binding integrin for fibronectin and tenascin, is induced in keratinocytes when epithelial sheets fuse during wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haapasalmi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonnesen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olerud
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Uitto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Larjava
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019063:Tenascin / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D005353:Fibronectins; D016023:Integrins; D019063:Tenascin; C073878:integrin alphavbeta6