title: Expression of the retinoid-inducible polypeptide, midkine, in human epidermal keratinocytes.
abstract: Midkine (MK) is a retinoid-inducible and potent cell growth/differentiation factor active during mouse embryogenesis. We studied MK expression in various cell strains established from the skin. MK and its mRNA were detected in cultured keratinocytes but not in melanoma cell lines or dermal fibroblasts by both Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Treatment of cultured keratinocytes with retinoic acid (10(-5) M, 24 h) resulted in an increase in the level of MK mRNA. When added to cultured keratinocytes, MK stimulated cell proliferation fourfold. Immunohistochemistry revealed MK to be present at the epidermal-dermal junction in embryonic mouse skin and in normal human skin. The limited expression of MK in epidermal keratinocytes indicates that this polypeptide may be involved in the differentiation/proliferation of keratinocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inazumi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kadomatsu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D000078792:Midkine; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D000078792:Midkine; D014212:Tretinoin