Crossing the barrier: STRA6 in epidermal differentiation.
In this issue, Skazik et al. demonstrate that the STRA6 retinol transporter protein regulates the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. In human organotypic three-dimensional skin and skin reconstitution models, depletion of STRA6 induced hyperproliferation-associated differentiation, resulting in epidermal expansion. This reveals that STRA6 functions as a "gatekeeper" in retinol (vitamin A)-mediated differentiation of human skin.
Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
Kristian B
KB
Laursen
Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address: ljgudas@med.cornell.edu.
Lorraine J
LJ
Gudas
D000818:Animals; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; C519685:STRA6 protein, human; C108001:Stra6 protein, mouse