Increased Susceptibility to Skin Carcinogenesis Associated with a Spontaneous Mouse Mutation in the Palmitoyl Transferase Zdhhc13 Gene

The study investigated a spontaneous mutation in the Zdhhc13 gene in mice, which led to increased susceptibility to skin carcinogenesis. Mutant mice exhibited alopecia, epidermal hyperplasia, increased keratinocyte proliferation, and an inflammatory skin phenotype with elevated NF-κB activation and neutrophil recruitment. These mice developed more papillomas and showed faster malignant progression compared to wild-type mice. The findings highlighted the critical role of Zdhhc13 in skin and hair follicle health, suggesting that mutations in this gene could be a risk factor for skin cancer and underscoring the importance of palmitoylation in maintaining skin integrity.