Ras/Erk MAPK signaling in epidermal homeostasis and neoplasia.
Epidermis provides the cutaneous barrier to the external environment and undergoes a continual process of proliferative self-renewal, with human epidermis undergoing complete turnover approximately 1,000 times in a lifetime. Recent work suggests that this ongoing proliferative replenishment of epidermal cells depends, in part, on continual signals for cell division and survival transmitted by the Ras/Erk MAPK pathway. Such constant cell proliferation, however, requires tight regulation to avoid the uncontrolled tissue expansion characteristic of epidermal neoplasia. Recent studies provide new insight into Ras/Erk MAPK pathway function in the control of normal skin development and homeostasis as well as how its deregulation promotes epidermal tumorigenesis.
Khavari
Thomas A
TA
Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Rinn
John
J
D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins