Regulation of Keratin 9 in Nonpalmoplantar Keratinocytes by Palmoplantar Fibroblasts Through Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interactions
Studysummary This study suggests that keratin 9 expression in nonpalmoplantar keratinocytes can be induced by signals from palmoplantar fibroblasts, potentially enabling the use of nonpalmoplantar epidermis to treat palmoplantar wounds. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study demonstrated that keratin 9 (K9) expression in nonpalmoplantar keratinocytes was regulated by signals from palmoplantar fibroblasts through epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Nonpalmoplantar keratinocytes expressed K9 mRNA when cocultured with palmoplantar fibroblasts, and this was confirmed via immunohistochemistry and transplantation experiments. Papillary palmoplantar fibroblasts were more effective than reticular fibroblasts in inducing K9 expression. Grafting nonpalmoplantar epidermal sheets onto human sole wounds resulted in a palmoplantar phenotype with significant K9 expression, suggesting potential applications for treating palmoplantar wounds.
