Revisiting the Significance of Keratin Expression in Complex Epithelia
October 2022
in “
Journal of cell science
”
TLDR Keratin genes change gradually during skin cell development and should be used carefully as biomarkers.
A re-analysis of single-cell RNAseq data from human and mouse skin has confirmed the importance and regulation of specific keratin genes in keratinocytes, supporting the gradual changes in keratin gene expression during differentiation. This study challenges the assumption that specific keratin combinations indicate a mitotic versus post-mitotic state and suggests a more nuanced approach to using keratin genes as biomarkers in epithelial tissues.
