TGF beta promotes the basal phenotype of epidermal keratinocytes: transcriptional induction of K#5 and K#14 keratin genes

• Published in: Growth factors (Chur, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 87
• Main Authors: Jiang, C K, Tomić-Canić, M, Lucas, D J, Simon, M, Blumenberg, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 1995
• Subjects: 3T3 Cells; Animals; Cattle; Cells, Cultured; Epidermis; HeLa Cells; Humans; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Keratins - genetics; Mice; Phenotype; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Transforming Growth Factor beta - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0897-7194
• DOI: 10.3109/08977199509028955

TGFbeta is an important regulator of epidermal keratinocyte function because it suppresses cell proliferation, while it induces synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and their cells surface receptors. To examine whether TGFbeta affects synthesis of intracellular proteins as well, specifically the transcription of keratin genes, we transfected a series of DNA constructs that contain keratin gene promoters into human epidermal keratinocytes. The transfected cells were grown in the presence and absence of TGFbeta. We found that TGFbeta specifically induces transcription controlled by the promoters of K#5 and K#14 keratin genes, markers of basal cells. No other keratin gene promoters were induced. The effect of TGFbeta is concentration-dependent, can be demonstrated in HeLa cells, does not depend on keratinocyte growth conditions and can be elicited by both TGFbeta1 and TGFbeta2. We conclude that TGFbeta promotes the basal cell phenotype in stratified epithelia such as the epidermis.