title: Hsp27 expression coincides with epidermal stratification during human epidermal morphogenesis.
abstract: Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), apart from its protective function in response to stress, is implicated in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Data on the expression of Hsp27 in the developing human epidermis are sparse and partially conflicting. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate Hsp27 expression during the morphogenesis of human epidermis. Skin biopsies and dispase-separated epidermal sheets obtained from 7 human embryos (7 and 8 weeks estimated gestational age, EGA), from 79 human fetuses (9-23 weeks EGA) and from 10 healthy adult volunteers were investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. The earliest detection of Hsp27 expression was found by immunohistochemistry at the 12th week EGA (basal and intermediate layer) and by Western blotting at the 9th week EGA. From the 16th to the 23rd week EGA immunoreactivity was not detectable in the basal layer, whereas in the overlying layers it revealed a differentiation-related pattern. The simultaneous onset of epidermal stratification and Hsp27 expression (9th week EGA) and the alterations of the latter in the subsequent stages of development, suggest that this stress protein may be involved in the molecular events underlying human epidermal morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Patras, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iasso General Hospital, Athens, Greece. almonast@med.upatras.gr
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monastirli
authors.forename: Anastassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vourekas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Badavanis
authors.forename: Efi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasmatzi
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sagriotis
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drainas
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavlidou
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Theofilos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakkis
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mantagos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kourounis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varakis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stamatiou
authors.forename: Dionysios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsambaos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009024:Morphogenesis
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins