Effects of IL-17 on Epidermal Development

Immunotherapies targeting interleukin 17 (IL-17) have a strong effect on plaque psoriasis. However, many previous studies on IL-17 focused only on the T-helper 17 (Th17) immune response, and a few studies have reported that IL-17A may affect psoriatic epidermal structure. IL-17 includes six family members, namely IL-17A–F, which are involved in a wide variety of biological responses. IL-17A is produced mainly by Th17 cells or group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3), while IL-17C is locally produced by epithelial cells, such as keratinocytes. In contrast to IL-17C, which is locally produced in various cells such as keratinocytes, it is predicted that IL-17A, which is produced by limited cells and has systemic effects, has different roles in epidermal development. For example, several research studies have shown that IL-17A affects terminal differentiation of epidermis by suppressing the expression of filaggrin or loricrin in keratinocytes. On the other hand, IL-17C, which is produced by keratinocytes themselves, does not have as strong as an effect on epidermal development as IL-17A. In this chapter, we summarized the effects of IL-17A and other IL-17 members on epidermal development and their comprehensive roles based on previously reported papers.

Targeted deletion of Ruvbl1 results in severe defects of epidermal development and perinatal mortality

Epidermal development is a complex process of regulated cellular proliferation, differentiation, and tightly controlled cell death involving multiple cellular signaling networks. Here, we report a first description linking the AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) superfamily protein Ruvbl1 to mammalian epidermal development. Keratinocyte-specific Ruvbl1 knockout mice (Ruvbl1fl/flK14:Cretg) show a severe phenotype including dramatic structural epidermal defects resulting in the loss of the functional skin barrier and perinatal death. Thus, Ruvbl1 is a newly identified essential player for the development of differentiated epidermis in mice.

Comprehensive proteomic atlas of skin biomatrix scaffolds reveals a supportive microenvironment for epidermal development

Biomaterial scaffolds are increasingly being used to drive tissue regeneration. The limited success so far in human tissues rebuilding and therapy application may be due to inadequacy of the functionality biomaterial scaffold. We developed a new decellularized method to obtain complete anatomical skin biomatrix scaffold in situ with extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture preserved, in this study. We described a skin scaffold map by integrated proteomics and systematically analyzed the interaction between ECM proteins and epidermal cells in skin microenvironment on this basis. They were used to quantify structure and function of the skin’s Matrisome, comprised of core ECM components and ECM-associated soluble signals that are key regulators of epidermal development. We especially revealed that ECM played a role in determining the fate of epidermal stem cells through hemidesmosome components. These concepts not only bring us a new understanding of the role of the skin ECM niche, they also provide an attractive combinational strategy based on tissue engineering principles with skin biomatrix scaffold materials for the acceleration and enhancement of tissue regeneration.

Genome-wide characterization of NtHD-ZIP IV: different roles in abiotic stress response and glandular Trichome induction

Background The plant-specific homeodomain-leucine zipper class IV (HD-ZIP IV) gene family has been involved in the regulation of epidermal development. Results Fifteen genes coding for HD-ZIP IV proteins were identified (NtHD-ZIP-IV-1 to NtHD-ZIP-IV-15) based on the genome of N. tabacum. Four major domains (HD, ZIP, SAD and START) were present in these proteins. Tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that NtHD-ZIP-IV-1, − 2, − 3, − 10, and − 12 may be associated with trichome development; NtHD-ZIP-IV-8 was expressed only in cotyledons; NtHD-ZIP-IV-9 only in the leaf and stem epidermis; NtHD-ZIP-IV-11 only in leaves; and NtHD-ZIP-IV-15 only in the root and stem epidermis. We found that jasmonates may induce the generation of glandular trichomes, and that NtHD-ZIP-IV-1, − 2, − 5, and − 7 were response to MeJA treatment. Dynamic expression under abiotic stress and after application of phytohormones indicated that most NtHD-ZIP IV genes were induced by heat, cold, salt and drought. Furthermore, most of these genes were induced by gibberellic acid, 6-benzylaminopurine, and salicylic acid, but were inhibited by abscisic acid. NtHD-ZIP IV genes were sensitive to heat, but insensitive to osmotic stress. Conclusion NtHD-ZIP IV genes are implicated in a complex regulatory gene network controlling epidermal development and abiotic stress responses. The present study provides evidence to elucidate the gene functions of NtHD-ZIP IVs during epidermal development and stress response.

A scanning electron microscopy-based screen of leaves of Solanum pennellii (ac. LA716) x Solanum lycopersicum (cv. M82) introgression lines provides a resource for identification of loci involved in epidermal development in tomato

The aerial epidermis of plants plays a major role in their environment interactions, and the development of its cellular components -trichomes, stomata and pavement cells- is still not fully understood. We have performed a detailed screen of the leaf epidermis of two generations of the well-established Solanum pennellii ac. LA716 x Solanum lycopersicum cv. M82 introgression line (IL) population using a combination of scanning electron microscopy techniques. Quantification of the trichome and stomatal densities in the ILs revealed 18 genomic regions with a low trichome density and 4 ILs with a high stomatal density. We also found ILs with abnormal proportions of different trichome types and aberrant trichome morphologies. This work has led to the identification of new, unexplored genomic regions with roles in trichome and stomatal formation and provides an important dataset for further studies on tomato epidermal development that is publically available to the research community.