E-cadherin controls adherens junctions in the epidermis and the renewal of hair follicles.
E-cadherin is thought to mediate intercellular adhesion in the mammalian epidermis and in hair follicles as the adhesive component of adherens junctions. We have tested this role of E-cadherin directly by conditional gene ablation in the mouse. We show that postnatal loss of E-cadherin in keratinocytes leads to a loss of adherens junctions and altered epidermal differentiation without accompanying signs of inflammation. Overall tissue integrity and desmosomal structures were maintained, but skin hair follicles were progressively lost. Tumors were not observed and beta-catenin levels were not strongly altered in the mutant skin. We conclude that E-cadherin is required for maintaining the adhesive properties of adherens junctions in keratinocytes and proper skin differentiation. Furthermore, continuous hair follicle cycling is dependent on E-cadherin.
Institute of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Hönggerberg, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
Peter
P
Young
Oreda
O
Boussadia
Hartmut
H
Halfter
Richard
R
Grose
Philipp
P
Berger
Dino P
DP
Leone
Horst
H
Robenek
Patrick
P
Charnay
Rolf
R
Kemler
Ueli
U
Suter
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D015820:Cadherins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; C497327:Egr2 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors