Mammalian epidermal messenger RNA: identification and characterization of the keratin messengers

The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in human sulfur mustard (HD) toxicology

The authors applied in vitro models of controlled damage to human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs), human skin fibroblasts (HSFs), and human breast skin tissue (HBST) to examine the mechanism responsible for sulfur mustard (HD)-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) alterations. Treatment with 100 microM HD for 24 hours resulted in a significant increased amount of IL-6 being secreted by HEKs (HD-exposed to control ratio [E/C] = 4.15 +/- 0.07) and by HSFs (E/C = 7.66 +/- 0.04). Furthermore, the HD-induced secretion of IL-6 in HEKs was neutralized with monoclonal human IL-6 antibodies. The secretion of IL-6 in HBST supernatant exposed to HD produced conflicting results. Although an increase of IL-6 was observed in control superfusion media from HBST, IL-6 levels were observed to decrease as the concentration of HD increased. Time course of IL-6 mRNA levels were performed using a competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and human IL-6 mRNA assay detection kit in control and HD (100 microM)-treated HEKs cells. IL-6 mRNA transcripts in HD-exposed HEKs were first observed within 2 hours, dropped at 5 to 6 hours, and increased by approximately 2.2-fold and 8.5-fold at 24 to 48 hours after HD exposure, respectively, as detected by the Xplore mRNA Quantification System. Surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization (SELDI) mass spectrometry was also applied to study the secretion pattern of IL-6 on lysate preparations of HBST. A peak in the area of 23,194 to 23,226 Da was detected using antibody coupled to the chip. This peak was assigned to correspond to the mass of the IL-6 glycoprotein. Recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6) exposed to HD lacked the second disulfide bridge and was partially unfolded, as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance-nuclear Overhauser enhancement and exchange spectroscopy (NMR-NOESY). The disappearance of the resonance peak at 3.54 ppm and the appearance of a new chemical shift at 1.85 ppm suggested that a change in structure had occurred in the presence of HD. From the data, the possibility cannot be excluded that IL-6 might be involved in the early event of structural changes of the signal transducer glycoprotein that indirectly initiates the cascade of events such as skin irritation and blister formation observed in the pathophysiology of HD injury.

Structure of a gene for the human epidermal 67-kDa keratin

We present the structure and nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding the human epidermal 67-kDa keratin. Three genomic clones were isolated from a lambda Charon 4A human genomic library by hybridization to a specific cDNA probe. One clone of 12.3 kilobase pairs was shown by R-loop, DNA sequence, and primer-extension analyses to encode an entire gene of about 6.25 kilobase pairs. Of eight identified introns, seven are located within the region that encodes the central coiled-coil alpha-helical domain of the protein. Except for one intron located at the end of the region encoding this domain, these do not delineate apparent structural subdomains. The positions of five of the introns exactly coincide with the positions of introns previously reported in the hamster gene for the intermediate filament protein vimentin [Quax, W., Egberts, W.V., Hendricks, W., Quax-Jeuken, Y. & Bloemandal, H. (1983) Cell 35, 215-233]. These findings suggest that the human 67-kDa keratin and vimentin genes arose from a common ancestral gene.

Differential post-translational modification of human type I keratins synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system

The translation products synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system, from total cellular mRNA from the human epithelial cell-line ME-180, have been examined. Keratin proteins are prominent among these translation products, and they precisely coelectrophorese in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with keratins purified from the cells. Type-I, acidic, keratins which are acetylated in vivo, are also acetylated by the reticulocyte lysate. Examination by two-dimensional electrophoresis, of two acidic keratins known to be phosphorylated in vivo reveals that only one of these proteins is phosphorylated in the lysate system. Phosphorylation of this protein occurs after release of the completed polypeptide chain from the ribosome. The protein phosphorylated by the lysate is known to be the only ME-180 phosphokeratin modulated by cyclic AMP, reflecting in vitro the differential modification of ME-180 keratins in vivo.

Differentiation specific functions in cultured and transplanted mouse keratinocytes: environmental influences on ultrastructure and keratin expression

Keratinocytes from neonatal mouse back skin, growing in primary culture (PEC) under conventional conditions (immersed), exerted a reduced programme of differentiation as indicated by cell morphology and organisation, ultrastructure and keratin composition. Four major keratins were found in cytoskeletal extracts (mol.wt. 60K, 59K, 53K, 49K) of primary cultures, together with a minor 51K protein and some residual actin. This "culture-type" keratin profile remained stable and little variation was observed after repeated treatment with various agents, such as 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), retinoic acid (RA) or dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO). The profile was unaltered by long-term growth of primary cultures in low Ca2+ (0.1 mM) medium or on 3T3 feeder-layers. Nevertheless, TPA, RA and low Ca2+ did alter the morphology and filament architecture (as observed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with anti-keratin antibodies). Comparison of keratinocytes from primary culture with basal cells isolated from epidermis revealed similarities in electrophoretic profile, with the 60K and 53K keratins being common to both. The other in vivo keratins had a characteristic spatial distribution; 67K and 58K keratins were present in suprabasal cells (spinous and granular), while 64K, 62K, 58.5K and 57.5K keratins were present only in stratum corneum. None of these keratins were found in cultured cells grown under regular conditions. Several morphological features of epidermal differentiation could be restored by the growth of PEC on collagen gels exposed to the atmosphere ("organotypic" culture) without influencing the keratin profile. Almost complete restoration of epidermal function was achieved after transplantation of PEC onto adult syngeneic mice. In this in vivo environment, well-structured epithelia developed which resembled interfollicular epidermis. Restoration of both typical ultrastructure and in vivo type keratin expression occurred within 2 or 3 weeks. Thus, although keratinocytes in primary culture differ considerably from those in vivo, they have not irreversibly lost the capacity for complete differentiation.

Prekeratin biosynthesis in human scalp epidermis

Analysis of human scalp epidermal prekeratin polypeptides by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that each of the bands observed in one-dimensional electrophoresis consisted of three to five polypeptides of the same molecular weight but differing in isoelectric points. It was possible to divide the polypeptides into two families, with isoelectric points in the ranges pH 6.0-8.0 and pH 5.0-5.5 respectively. Incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids into freshly excised pieces of scalp epidermis showed that some of the polypeptides had relatively greater contents of glycine and serine than others. Radiolabelled methionine and leucine were, in contrast, incorporated more or less uniformly into all the polypeptides. After incubation with 32P-labelled orthophosphate, relatively more intense labelling by 32P was observed in the higher molecular weight bands of each family. The most basic of the isoelectric variants in each case did not take up phosphate, implying that at least some of the variation in charge was due to different degrees of phosphorylation. Polyadenylated RNA isolated from scalp epidermis was translated in an RNA-dependent reticulocyte haemolysate system followed by immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis. The polypeptides isolated by using anti-(human scalp prekeratin) immunoglobulin G had similar electrophoretic mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels to authentic prekeratin polypeptides, but had different isoelectric properties. This suggested that the products of keratin gene expression undergo post-translational modification.

In vitro biosynthesis of mouse hair keratins under the direction of follicular RNA

A hair follicle-enriched fraction from neonatal C57BL/6J mouse skin has been obtained by a newly-developed preparative procedure. RNA isolated from this source directs protein synthesis in a cell-free translation system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. Translation products in the molecular weight range of keratins (45,000-70,000 Mr) are encoded by RNA species which sediment at 18S on sucrose density gradients. Proteins of 63K, 59K, 58K, 47K and 46K Mr were identified as keratins on the basis of electrophoretic mobilities identical with authentic hair keratins and by immunoprecipitation with keratin antiserum.

Epidermal keratin messenger RNAs: a heterogeneous family

A messenger RNA fraction from guinea-pig skin sediments on sucrose gradients at approx. 19 S and codes for keratin polypeptides in a messenger-dependent reticulocyte lysate system. Partial purification of this fraction was achieved by two cycles of chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose, followed by two cycles of sucrose gradient centrifugation. The identities of the protein products as keratins were established by co-electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, by peptide mapping, and by co-electrophoresis on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. All of the epidermal keratin polypeptides which are present in vivo are synthesized in vitro under the direction of this messenger. Fractionation of the messenger indicates that each different polypeptide is the product of a single mRNA species, and that no keratin is formed by proteolytic processing of higher molecular weight species or by polymerization of smaller precursors. Post-translational changes such as phosphorylation, which are known to occur in vivo, cannot be identified in the reticulocyte lysate system. Translation of these keratin messenger species is strongly inhibited by 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate, indicating that the molecules have a 'capped' 5'-terminus.