Epidermal and hair follicle progenitor cells express melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein.
Basal keratinocytes in the epidermis and hair follicle are biologically heterogeneous but must include a stable subpopulation of epidermal stem cells. In animal models these can be identified by their retention of radioactive label due to their slow cycle (label-retaining cells) but human studies largely depend on in vitro characterization of colony forming efficiency and clonogenicity. Differential integrin expression has been used to detect cells of increased proliferative potential but further stem cell markers are urgently required for in vivo and in vitro characterization. Using LHM2, a monoclonal antibody reacting with a high molecular weight melanoma-associated proteoglycan core protein, a subset of basal keratinocytes in both the interfollicular epidermis and the hair follicle has been identified. Coexpression of melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan with keratins 15 and 19 as well as beta 1 and alpha 6 integrins has been examined in adult and fetal human skin from hair bearing, nonhair bearing, and palmoplantar regions. Although melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan coexpression with a subset of beta 1 integrin bright basal keratinocytes within the epidermis suggests that melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan colocalizes with epidermal stem cells, melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan expression within the hair follicle was more complex and multiple subpopulations of basal outer root sheath keratinocytes are described. These data suggest that epithelial compartmentalization of the outer root sheath is more complex than interfollicular epidermis and further supports the hypothesis that more than one hair follicle stem cell compartment may exist.
Center for Cutaneous Research, Barts, and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
Lucy
L
Ghali
Soon-Tee
ST
Wong
Nick
N
Tidman
Anthony
A
Quinn
Michael P
MP
Philpott
Irene M
IM
Leigh
D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D039503:Integrin alpha6 / Q000235:genetics; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D053569:Keratin-15; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics; D008545:Melanoma / Q000503:physiopathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4
D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D039503:Integrin alpha6; D019012:Integrin beta1; D053569:Keratin-15; D007633:Keratins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C101390:CSPG4 protein, human; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4; C116015:KRT15 protein, human; C492053:Krt15 protein, mouse