Severe Abnormalities in the Oral Mucosa Induced by Suprabasal Expression of Epidermal Keratin K10 in Transgenic Mice

The study examined the effects of suprabasal expression of epidermal keratin K10 in transgenic mice, which led to severe abnormalities in the oral mucosa, particularly in the tongue and palate. These abnormalities included cytolysis, acute inflammation, and lymphocyte infiltration, resulting in the death of transgenic pups shortly after birth due to impaired suckling. The findings indicated that changes in keratin composition could significantly impact epithelial cell physiology, causing structural and functional disruptions. Despite severe oral abnormalities, no hair or nail defects were observed, likely due to early lethality. The study suggested that keratin K10 played a role in mechanical resilience and inflammatory response modulation, with implications for oral epithelial integrity.