Author Response: Intercellular Propagation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Activation Revealed by In Vivo Imaging of Mouse Skin
January 2015
TLDR ERK activation spreads between cells, influencing cell division and wound healing.
The study investigated the propagation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation in mouse skin, revealing two types of propagation: SPREAD, a sporadic burst of ERK activation, and a sustained wave-like response to wounding. Both types depended on metalloprotease activity and MEK activation. The research highlighted the physiological importance of wound-response waves, though the exact mechanisms differentiating SPREAD from wound-response waves remained unclear. The study faced challenges in correlating SPREAD frequency with factors like age or sex and in establishing a definitive link between SPREADs and cell cycle progression. The authors acknowledged limitations in their data and adjusted their conclusions accordingly.
