8-Cl-Adenosine enhances 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced growth inhibition without affecting 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-stimulated differentiation of primary mouse epidermal keratinocytes.
BACKGROUND
Epidermal keratinocytes continuously proliferate and differentiate to form the mechanical and water permeability barrier that makes terrestrial life possible. In certain skin diseases, these processes become dysregulated, resulting in abnormal barrier formation. In particular, skin diseases such as psoriasis, actinic keratosis and basal and squamous cell carcinomas are characterized by hyperproliferation and aberrant or absent differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. We previously demonstrated that 8-Cl-adenosine (8-Cl-Ado) can induce keratinocyte growth arrest without inducing differentiation.


RESULTS
To determine if this agent might be useful in treating hyperproliferative skin disorders, we investigated whether 8-Cl-Ado could enhance the ability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], a known keratinocyte differentiating agent and a clinical treatment for psoriasis, to inhibit keratinocyte growth. We found that low concentrations of 8-Cl-Ado and 1,25(OH)2D3 appeared to act additively to reduce proliferation of primary mouse epidermal keratinocytes. However, another agent (transforming growth factor-beta) that triggers growth arrest without inducing differentiation also coincidentally inhibits differentiation elicited by other agents; inhibition of differentiation is suboptimal for treating skin disorders, as differentiation is often already reduced. Thus, we determined whether 8-Cl-Ado also decreased keratinocyte differentiation induced by 1,25(OH)2D3, as measured using the early and late differentiation markers, keratin 1 protein levels and transglutaminase activity, respectively. 8-Cl-Ado did not affect 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated keratin 1 protein expression or transglutaminase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that 8-Cl-Ado might be useful in combination with differentiating agents for the treatment of hyperproliferative disorders of the skin.
Department of Medicine (Dermatology), Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912 USA. wbollag@mail.mcg.edu
Wendy B
WB
Bollag
Xiaofeng
X
Zhong
Sarah
S
Josephson
D015762:2-Chloroadenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D053556:Keratin-1; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000378:metabolism
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C491616:KRT1 protein, human; D053556:Keratin-1; D015762:2-Chloroadenosine; D007633:Keratins; D004247:DNA; D011503:Transglutaminases; D002117:Calcitriol; C075440:8-chloroadenosine