AP-2α/AP-2β Transcription Factors Are Key Regulators of Epidermal Homeostasis

AP-2α and AP-2β transcription factors are essential for maintaining epidermal homeostasis, with AP-2α being the predominant factor in adult skin. Inactivation studies show that AP-2α can compensate for the loss of AP-2β, but the loss of AP-2α alone disrupts keratinocyte differentiation and hair morphogenesis. The combined loss of both factors results in severe skin and hair abnormalities, with differentiation defects occurring before neutrophilic skin inflammation. Transcriptomic analyses indicate that reduced AP-2α–dependent expression of CXCL14 and K15 is an early event in skin inflammation, highlighting the critical role of these transcription factors in skin function and inflammation prevention.