Urokinase is a positive regulator of epidermal proliferation in vivo

Pamela J. Jensen, Robert M. Lavker*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The epidermis is a self-renewing tissue that must maintain a basal proliferative rate as well as respond to various perturbing stimuli. Regulation of keratinocyte proliferation involves diverse molecules, including growth factors, ions, and hormones. We recently proposed that a proteinase, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) may be added to this list, based on correlative evidence linking expression of uPA and murine epidermal hyperproliferation. Here we report that, during the first 3 d of life, the epidermis from mice that bear a targeted deletion of the uPA gene has a significantly lower proliferative rate than the epidermis from wild- type mice. In contrast, proliferation in the matrix keratinocytes of the hair follicles is not decreased in neonatal UPA(-/-) mice. Vertical migration of keratinocytes during terminal differentiation was not affected. We therefore conclude that lack of uPA is associated with a decrease in epidermal proliferation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)240-244
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume112
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Funding

The generous gift of uPA–/–, tPA–/–, and wild-type strains of mice by Drs. Peter Carmeliet and Desire Collen (University of Leuven, Belgium) made this study possible. Grants from the National Institutes of Health to PJJ (RO1 AR42998) and RML (RO1 EY06769) supported this work. The authors acknowledge with gratitude the technical assistance of Ms. LeaAnn P. Lavy.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Urokinase is a positive regulator of epidermal proliferation in vivo'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this