Deconstructing the skin: Cytoarchitectural determinants of epidermal morphogenesis

Cory L. Simpson, Dipal M. Patel, Kathleen J. Green*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

379 Scopus citations

Abstract

To provide a stable environmental barrier, the epidermis requires an integrated network of cytoskeletal elements and cellular junctions. Nevertheless, the epidermis ranks among the body's most dynamic tissues, continually regenerating itself and responding to cutaneous insults. As keratinocytes journey from the basal compartment towards the cornified layers, they completely reorganize their adhesive junctions and cytoskeleton. These architectural components are more than just rivets and scaffolds they are active participants in epidermal morphogenesis that regulate epidermal polarization, signalling and barrier formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)565-580
Number of pages16
JournalNature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Volume12
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2011

Funding

The authors would like to thank M. Amagai, J. Jones, T. Lechler and T. Magin for critical reading of the manuscript and/or advice on figures. We also apologize to our colleagues whose work we were unable to include owing to space limitations. The authors are supported by US National Institutes of Health grants AR043380, AR041836 and CA122151, the Leducq Foundation and the J.L. Mayberry Endowment to K.J.G.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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