Amir Tavakkol

Maintenance of human skin in organ culture: role for insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor

Abstract Recent studies have shown that adult skin incubated in low-Ca 2+ (0.15 m M ) medium rapidly degenerates but that normal architecture is maintained when the tissue is incubated in high-Ca 2+ medium (1.4 m M Ca 2+ ). To investigate whether the skin cell-produced growth factors insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) play a role in these events, 2-mm skin punch biopsies were obtained and maintained for 8 to 10 days in a basal medium containing 0.15 m M Ca 2+ with and without growth factors, or containing 1.4 m M Ca 2+ with and without antibodies to the same growth factors. In parallel experiments, cultured human keratinocytes were incubated for 2 days in the same basal medium in the presence or absence of the same growth factors and antibodies. Consistent with previous reports, organ cultures incubated in the low-Ca 2+ (0.15 m M ) medium rapidly degenerated. Neither IGF-1 nor EGF prevented the complete degeneration of epidermis and dermis in these organ cultures. Interestingly, the addition of an anti-IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) antibody to the organ cultures maintained in high-Ca 2+ medium induced changes reminiscent of those seen when the organ cultures were maintained in low-Ca 2+ medium, i.e. tissue degeneration. In contrast, antibodies to EGF receptor, used for comparison, only produced focal areas of epidermal necrosis. In vitro, IGF-1 is a known mitogen for keratinocytes. In cultured human keratinocytes, anti-IGF-1R antibody partially inhibited the IGF-1-mediated stimulation of human keratinocyte proliferation without affecting normal spontaneous growth. Additionally, IGF-1R immunolocalized to basal keratinocytes in vivo, exhibited specific binding to IGF-1 in vitro. This indicated a critical role for IGF-1R in both organ cultures ex vivo and cultured cells in vitro. Messenger RNA encoding both IGF-1 and IGF-1R were readily detected by RT-PCR in organ cultures incubated in both low- and high-Ca 2+ medium. There were no detectable differences in IGF-1 mRNA in organ cultures growing in the low- or high-Ca 2+ medium, but lower levels of IGF-1R mRNA were observed in the organ cultures maintained in low-Ca 2+ medium than ¶in those in high Ca 2+ medium. These findings are consistent with homeostatic changes in the tissue grown under different calcium concentrations. IGF-1 mRNA was detected in several skin cell populations in vitro, even though it was undetectable in cultured keratinocytes. Taken together these findings indicate that (1) the IGF-l/¶IGF-1R loop is critically involved in maintenance of human skin organ cultures ex vivo, and (2) IGF-1, locally produced by skin cells other than keratinocytes, interacts with its receptor, predominantly expressed in basal keratinocytes, to maintain tissue homeostasis.

A retinoic acid-inducible skin-specific gene (RIS-1/psoriasin): molecular cloning and analysis of gene expression in human skin in vivo and cultured skin cells in vitro.

A retinoic acid (RA) inducible skin-specific gene transcript (RIS-1) was isolated by differential hybridization screening of a RA-treated human skin cDNA library. The library was constructed from pooled RNA derived from normal adult human skin treated with alltrans-RA for 4 h (n=6) and 12 h (n=6)in vivo. RIS-1 cDNA corresponded to a 0.6 kb transcript that was barely detectable in normal adult human skin but was significantly induced by 8 h in RA-treated compared to vehicle-treated skin (range 1.1–3.6 fold). Prolonged RA treatment for up to 24 h further increased relative RIS-1 mRNA levels by 1.3–5.5 fold. HPLC analysis of the RA content of 0.1% RA-treated skinin vivo revealed significant levels at 6 h (18.8–120.6 ng RA/g wet weight tissue; approximately 240 nM), immediately preceding the time point at which the increased RIS-1 mRNA level was first seen. This concentration of RA also induced the mRNA levels for cellular RA binding protein II (1.6–19 fold), a marker of RA activity in human skin. RIS-1 mRNA was detected by Northern and dot blotting only in normal skin but not in any other normal human tissues examined, indicating a tissue-specific pattern of gene expression. RIS-1 transcripts were detected at very low levels in untreated cultured human epidermal keratinocytes, while no expression was seen in dermal fibroblasts and melanocytes, the other major cell types in skin. Southern analysis of human and mouse DNA indicated the existence of evolutionarily conserved sequences for RIS-1 between these two species. The polypeptide sequence derived from the partial RIS-1 cDNA was found to be identical to the calcium binding domain found in ‘psoriasin’, a gene whose expression appears to be increased in the skin of psoriasis patients.

Topical all-trans retinoic acid (RA) induces an early, coordinated increase in RA-inducible skin-specific gene/psoriasin and cellular RA-binding protein II mRNA levels which precedes skin erythema

Separation of specific and nonspecific “irritant” effects of topical all-trans retinoic acid (RA) is a key to understanding the mechanism of retinoid action in skin. Cellular RA-binding protein (CRABP) II has been found to be a marker of RA activity in human skin. We have also previously identified a skin-specific gene (RIS-1/psoriasin) which is rapidly induced in human skin treated with RA. Here we compared the kinetics and time-course of RIS-1 and CRABP II gene activation by RA, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a classical irritant, and their vehicle (VH), using a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RIS-1 and CRABP II were both expressed at very low levels in untreated normal human skin, and in RA-treated skin the kinetics and time course of RIS-1 and CRABP II mRNA induction were similar. Relative to VH-treated skin, RA induced RIS-1 mRNA levels within 6 h, which further increased to 6.4-fold by 24 h (n=4). Similarly, CRABP II mRNA levels increased from 2.6-fold at 6 h to 7.8-fold after 24 h. At 48 h the relative mRNA levels for both genes decreased towards the steady-state levels. Relative to SLS-treated skin, RIS-1 mRNA increased by 3.2-fold after 6 h and by 5.1-fold after 12 h (n=3). Also, a 2.6-fold higher CRABP II mRNA observed after 6 h increased to 6-fold after 12 h. After 24 and 48 h RA treatment the relative mRNA levels for both genes decreased towards the steady-state levels. RA-induced skin erythema was not obvious until 24 to 48 h. We conclude, therefore, that induction of RIS-1 and CRABP II mRNA levels by topical RA in human skin are early, coordinated molecular events which precede the clinical cutaneous erythematous response to RA.

The effects of prolonged use of surfactants on the skin of normal and photo-exposed hairless mice.

Laboratory tests to assess the irritant potential of materials, such as skin cleansers, which are normally used over a long period by humans, fail to mimic actual use. Most washing tests last a few days or at most a few weeks. Skin sites and techniques are often not standardized. The more standardized patch test involves occlusion and results in exaggerated reactions, since even water and blank patches produce visible and pathophysiologic changes. All of these tests rely on visual assessment despite strong evidence that similarly appearing skin can be very different histologically. The primary objective of this study was to use a well‐defined animal model to evaluate the cumulative effects of repeated skin exposure to low levels of surfactants of varying skin irritation potential. A secondary aim was to examine whether or not surfactant‐induced skin changes were exacerbated by suberythemal UV radiation. Test materials were applied topically, 2× daily to the dorsal areas of normal and low‐dose solar simulator exposed mice for 15 weeks. Our results show that, with conditions mimicking typical normal use, these surfactants and skin cleansers produce little or very mild histological changes in the skin. UV irradiation alone produced the greatest change in all histological parameters examined, with no synergistic or additive effects with the topical treatments.