title: Studies of cell signaling in a reconstructed human epidermis exposed to sensitizers: IL-8 synthesis and release depend on EGFR activation.
abstract: Models of reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) holding proliferating and fully differentiated cultured keratinocytes allow in vitro investigation of early molecular and cellular epidermal events during the complex response of keratinocytes at the onset of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) or sensitization. In this study, data collected on RHE exposed to well-characterized sensitizing chemicals, such as dinitrofluorobenzene, oxazolone, cinnamaldehyde and isoeugenol, revealed a transient expression of IL-8 mRNA in association with abundant IL-8 cell release. Investigations of keratinocyte signaling illustrate transient activation by tissue exposure to sensitizing chemicals of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This activation of EGFR tyrosine kinase is involved in the expression and release of IL-8. The IL-8 release appears also to be partially dependent on p38 and ERK 1/2 MAPK activation. Moreover, data suggest that heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) expression and release induced after exposure of RHE to sensitizing chemicals are also under the control of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity, independently of the IL-8 expression and release. Mechanistic approach of keratinocyte responses in the context of RHE underlying regulation of expression and release of epidermal cytokines and growth factors after topical application of sensitizing chemicals is proposed to identify biomarkers which could then be analysed for in vitro toxicological screening of new or undefined compounds.
authors.affiliation: Cell and Tissue Laboratory, URPHYM (Research Unit for Molecular Physiology), NARILIS, University of Namur (FUNDP), Namur, Belgium.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frankart
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coquette
authors.forename: Klaus-Rudolf
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poumay
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000494:pharmacology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005054:Eugenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D010081:Oxazolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010081:Oxazolone; D005054:Eugenol; C036643:isoeugenol; D000171:Acrolein; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C012843:cinnamaldehyde