Keratinocyte growth factor inhibits cross-linked envelope formation and nucleosomal fragmentation in cultured human keratinocytes.
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) exhibits paracrine action on numerous epithelia, including skin. We have found that cultures of normal human keratinocytes must attain confluence before KGF promotes an increase in cell number relative to untreated controls. In postconfluent cultures, treatment with KGF promoted tight packing of keratinocytes with a small basal cell morphology. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that KGF increased cell number in postconfluent cultures by affecting the ability of normal keratinocytes to undergo terminal differentiation and/or programmed cell death. In support of this hypothesis, keratinocytes treated with KGF produced fewer cross-linked envelopes and exhibited reduced membrane-associated transglutaminase activity relative to cells treated with epidermal growth factor or untreated controls. We also found that nucleosomal fragmentation was reduced in postconfluent cultures of KGF-treated keratinocytes. Furthermore, KGF-treated keratinocytes were more resistant to suspension-induced nucleosomal fragmentation than control or epidermal growth factor-treated cultures. Therefore, it appears that KGF modulates aspects of keratinocyte terminal differentiation which share features with programmed cell death. We propose that stromally-derived KGF may act as a paracrine survival factor in skin and perhaps other renewal tissues.
Hines
M D
MD
Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA.
Allen-Hoffmann
B L
BL
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000378:metabolism
C496453:FGF7 protein, human; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D006133:Growth Substances; D009707:Nucleosomes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004247:DNA; D011503:Transglutaminases