Work

Erk5 Controls Slug Expression and Keratinocyte Activation during Wound Healing

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: Reepithelialization during cutaneous wound healing involves numerous signals that result in basal keratinocyte activation, spreading, and migration, all linked to a loosening of cell-cell adhesion structures. The transcription factor Slug is required for this process, and EGF treatment of human keratinocytes induced activating phosphorylation of Erk5 that coincides with slug transcription. Accordingly, ectopic activation of Erk5 led to increased Slug mRNA levels and faster wound healing, whereas keratinocyte migration was totally blocked by Erk5 pathway inhibition. Expression of a shRNA specific for Erk5 strongly diminished Erk5 levels in keratinocytes and significantly decreased their motility response to EGF, along with induction of Slug expression. These Erk5-deprived keratinocytes showed an altered, more compact morphology, along with disruption of desmosome organization. Accordingly, they displayed an altered ability to form cell aggregates. These results implicate a novel EGFR/Erk5/Slug pathway in the control of cytoskeleton organization and cell motility in keratinocytes treated with EGF.

Source: Molecular Biology of the Cell

DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e07-10-1078

Authors: Valerie Arnoux, Mayssaa Nassour, Annie L'Helgoualc'h, Robert A. Hipskind, Pierre Savagner

Institutions: Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier

Language: English

Topic: Wound Healing and Treatments

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, Fondation de France