Expression and functional role of Sox9 in human epidermal keratinocytes.
In this study, we investigated the expression and putative role of Sox9 in epidermal keratinocyte. Immunohistochemical staining showed that Sox9 is predominantly expressed in the basal layer of normal human skin epidermis, and highly expressed in several skin diseases including psoriasis, basal cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma. In calcium-induced keratinocyte differentiation model, the expression of Sox9 was decreased in a time dependent manner. When Sox9 was overexpressed using a recombinant adenovirus, cell growth was enhanced, while the expression of differentiation-related genes such as loricrin and involucrin was markedly decreased. Similarly, when rat skin was intradermally injected with the adenovirus expressing Sox9, the epidermis was thickened with increase of PCNA positive cells, while the epidermal differentiation was decreased. Finally, UVB irradiation induced Sox9 expression in cultured human epidermal keratinocytes, and keratinocytes are protected from UVB-induced apoptosis by Sox9 overexpression. Together, these results suggest that Sox9 is an important regulator of epidermal keratinocytes with putative pro-proliferation and/or pro-survival functions, and may be related to several cutaneous diseases that are characterized by abnormal differentiation and hyperproliferation.
Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
Ge
G
Shi
Kyung-Cheol
KC
Sohn
Zhengjun
Z
Li
Dae-Kyoung
DK
Choi
Young Min
YM
Park
Jin-Hwa
JH
Kim
Yi-Ming
YM
Fan
Yong Hee
YH
Nam
Sooyeon
S
Kim
Myung
M
Im
Young
Y
Lee
Young-Joon
YJ
Seo
Chang Deok
CD
Kim
Jeung-Hoon
JH
Lee
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527932:SOX9 protein, human