Live Imaging of Keratin Network in Stratum Granulosum Reveals Dynamic Cytoskeletal Changes During Cornification in Mice In Vivo

The document presents a study that investigated the dynamic changes in the keratin cytoskeleton during the process of cornification in the stratum granulosum of mice in vivo. Researchers generated a mouse model (mCherry-K1SG mice) that expressed a fluorescent keratin 1 protein to visualize these changes. They observed that the keratin filament networks in the stratum granulosum cells became less distinct as the cells transitioned into the stratum corneum. Additionally, the study found that the morphology of the keratin networks was associated with the skin's barrier function, as evidenced by differences observed in mice with a deficiency in the protein filaggrin. The results suggest that the keratin network undergoes dynamic changes during cornification, which are linked to the barrier function of the skin.