Onset of Keratin 17 Expression Coincides with the Definition of Major Epithelial Lineages during Skin Development

October 1998 in “ The Journal of Cell Biology ”

Kevin McGowan, Pierre A. Coulombe

TLDR Keratin 17 is important for skin development and may help define skin cell types.

The study investigated the expression of keratin 17 (K17) during mouse skin development, revealing that K17 synthesis began in embryonic day 10.5 in a subset of epithelial cells. These cells later formed placodes, precursors to ectoderm-derived appendages like hair, glands, and teeth. The spatial distribution of K17 corresponded with lymphoid-enhancer factor (lef-1), a protein involved in epithelial–mesenchymal interactions. Ectopic expression of lef-1 in adult transgenic mice induced K17, suggesting a link between K17 expression, skin morphogenesis, and wound repair. This research highlighted the role of K17 in skin development and its potential involvement in epithelial lineage definition.

View this study on rupress.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research The Two Functional Keratin 6 Genes of Mouse Are Differentially Regulated and Evolved Independently from Their Human Orthologs

79 citations , October 1998 in “Genomics”

Mouse keratin 6 genes evolved independently from human ones and are regulated differently.

research Mutations in the hair cortex keratin hHb6 cause the inherited hair disease monilethrix

175 citations , August 1997 in “Nature Genetics”

research Defining a Region of the Human Keratin 6a Gene That Confers Inducible Expression in Stratified Epithelia of Transgenic Mice

44 citations , May 1997 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry”

The human keratin 6a gene's specific sequences trigger expression in skin layers after injury.

research Transgenic Mice Expressing IFN-γ in the Epidermis Have Eczema, Hair Hypopigmentation, and Hair Loss

150 citations , April 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

research Keratin 17 Gene Expression during the Murine Hair Cycle

70 citations , March 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

research Sequences and differential expression of three novel human type-II hair keratins

61 citations , February 1997 in “Differentiation”

research The role of keratin proteins and their genes in the growth, structure and properties of hair

228 citations , January 1997 in “Birkhäuser Basel eBooks”

Keratin proteins and their genes are crucial for hair growth and structure.

research Increased expression of keratin 16 causes anomalies in cytoarchitecture and keratinization in transgenic mouse skin.

94 citations , October 1994 in “The Journal of Cell Biology”

Too much keratin 16 in mice skin causes abnormal skin thickening and structure.

research The Epidermis: Rising to the Surface

238 citations , October 1994 in “Current opinion in genetics & development”

The document concludes that recent research has improved understanding of skin diseases and the balance between cell growth and differentiation in the epidermis.