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Biomedical subjects

D Asselineau

Publications and source records attributed to D Asselineau.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Deficiency in catalase activity correlates with the appearance of tumor phenotype in human keratinocytes.

Biopsies isolated from various human stratified epitheliomas and cultures of the associated fibroblasts exhibit a breakdown in catalase activity (70 to 95%). We report here that primary human cultures of keratinocytes and various immortalized keratinocyte cell lines differ from one other in their catalase activity. Moreover, deficient catalase activity appears to be related to the intensity of tumor phenotype expression. Since catalase activity in cell lines transformed in vitro is not as weak as activity observed in cell lines isolated from tumors, catalase deficiency may follow the successive steps of tumor progression.

Acatalasia↗

Isolation of a GC-rich cDNA identifying mRNA present in human epidermis and modulated by calcium and retinoic acid in cultured keratinocytes. Homology with murine loricrin mRNA.

Differential screening of a human epidermal cDNA library led to the isolation of cDNA clones homologous to mRNAs specifically expressed in epidermis but weakly or not expressed in the undifferentiated squamous carcinoma cell line TR146. One of these 'differentiation-specific' cDNA clones, A8, hybridized with a 1.7 kb transcript among RNAs isolated from normal human epidermis, but with several transcripts ranging from 1.4 to 2.1 kb when mRNAs were isolated from cultured keratinocytes. We examined the effects of modulators of epidermal differentiation such as calcium and retinoic acid on the production of these transcripts. Their amount was found to increase in the presence of high calcium concentration, but to decrease in the presence of retinoic acid. These results strongly suggest that A8 messages are up-regulated during epidermal differentiation. The sequence of the 1371 bp of A8 cDNA shows a very high GC content. Because of its homology with the murine loricrin mRNA, A8 is likely to correspond either to the human loricrin or to a related protein.

Animals↗

Retinoic acid inhibits the production of collagenase by human epidermal keratinocytes.

Lattices made of collagen and fibroblasts can be used as dermal equivalents to grow human keratinocytes in vitro. When these cultures are performed in a medium containing delipidized serum, the lattice is eventually degraded by the growing epithelium. The digestion of the dermal equivalent is due to the secretion of a collagenase by the keratinocytes. This degradation does not occur in cultures containing total serum or supplemented with retinoic acid. We show in this paper that retinoic acid inhibits the secretion of this keratinocyte collagenase in a dose-dependent manner. In the light of this result, the possible involvement of collagenase inhibition in the therapeutic effect of retinoic acid in skin disorders and skin aging must be considered.

Blood Physiological Phenomena↗

Filaggrin production by cultured human epidermal keratinocytes and its regulation by retinoic acid.

Filaggrin is a basic protein normally present in the stratum corneum of epidermis. It derives from a high-molecular-weight precursor synthesized in the stratum granulosum of epidermis. This precursor, called profilaggrin, is thought to be associated with the keratohyaline granules of granular cells. It is known that profilaggrin, but not filaggrin, is present in conventional cultures of human keratinocytes grown on plastic petri dishes. In this study, we show that cultured human keratinocytes can convert profilaggrin into filaggrin, when they are grown on a collagen matrix and raised at the liquid-air interface in order to induce terminal differentiation. Moreover, the presence of terminally differentiating keratinocytes above the granular layer is necessary, but not sufficient, for the accumulation of filaggrin. Finally, we show that the accumulation of filaggrin in the outermost layers of submerged cultured human keratinocytes can be triggered by extensive removal (double delipidization) of retinoids from the serum supplement and inhibited when small concentrations (10(-11)-10(-10) M) of retinoic acid are readded to the culture medium. Altogether, the data reported suggest that not only the synthesis of profilaggrin, but also the conversion of profilaggrin into filaggrin are negatively controlled by retinoic acid. Further, it seems that retinoic acid acts directly on the conversion of profilaggrin into filaggrin rather than on the production of terminally differentiating cells capable of accumulating this protein.

Blood Physiological Phenomena↗

Human epidermis reconstructed on dermal substrates in vitro: an alternative to animals in skin pharmacology.

In this review, we describe three models of epidermis reconstructed on dermal substrates and utilized as an alternative to animal models. An almost normal epidermis is obtained when culture conditions are created that mimic the physiological conditions. The reconstruction of this epidermis allows us to evaluate the effects of substances such as retinoids and hormones on their target cell, namely the epidermal keratinocyte, and to visualize the alteration of morphogenesis and architecture of the epidermis under the influence of such hormones. These cultures of reconstructed epidermis on firm substrates lifted to the air-liquid interface show a great potential in medical and pharmacological research since the systemic and topical actions of drugs as well as their metabolism can be studied.

Animal Testing Alternatives↗

Retinoic acid improves epidermal morphogenesis.

Hyper- and hypovitaminosis A both provoke epithelial pathologies in animals and humans. This suggests that a critical level of retinoic acid (RA) is required in vivo for the maintenance of normal architecture and function of these tissues. However, no beneficial, but only adverse effects of RA on epithelia have been so far observed in vitro. For instance, addition of RA to keratinocyte cultures has been shown to inhibit epidermal differentiation while this process is stimulated by serum delipidization, which reduces RA concentration in the medium. Assuming that the previous failure to demonstrate beneficial effects of RA on the epidermal phenotype in vitro was due to culture conditions too far from the in vivo conditions we decided to reevaluate the effect of RA in a culture system optimized for epidermal morphogenesis: the "emerged dermal equivalent." When human keratinocytes were grown in such a system with total fetal calf serum, the resulting epithelium was very similar to normal epidermis. But when delipidized serum was used, the epithelium was abnormal in the direction of excessive maturation (hyperkeratosis). When physiological concentrations of RA (10(-9) and 10(-8) M) were added to the delipidized serum supplement, a normal architecture (orthokeratosis) was restored. However, as classically described in the literature, higher RA concentrations (greater than 10(-7) M) reduced epidermal maturation and produced parakeratosis. Thus, although it is unquestionable that RA reduces the synthesis of epidermal-specific differentiation markers, an optimal epidermal morphogenesis seems to be achieved only in the presence of a critical RA concentration.

Cell Differentiation↗

Abnormal sequence of expression of differentiation markers in psoriatic epidermis: inversion of two steps in the differentiation program?

This immunohistologic study was undertaken to compare epidermal differentiation in normal and psoriatic skin. Although basal cells retain a normal phenotype in this disease, suprabasal layers exhibit abnormal sets of differentiation markers. The 67-kD keratin and Bd5 antigen, which are found in normal epidermis immediately above the basal layer, appear several layers higher in involved psoriatic epidermis. On the contrary, KF2 antigen, which is found in the upper spinous layers of normal epidermis, appears more precociously in psoriatic epidermis. Paradoxically, in this disease characterized by the absence of a granular layer, some markers specific for this layer in normal skin, such as involucrin and transglutaminase, appear in lower skin cell layers, while other granular markers, such as filaggrin, are either absent or found in the parakeratotic scales. These results point out the existence in psoriasis of a suprabasal cell population characterized by a set of markers that are never coexpressed in normal epidermis. The existence of this abnormal population of cells can be explained as the result of the inversion of two steps in the differentiation program. Thus, instead of an inability to express a given differentiation marker, psoriasis seems to be characterized by an abnormal sequence of expression of these markers.

Adult↗

Human epidermis reconstructed by culture: is it "normal"?

Human keratinocytes were grown on a dermal equivalent (or lattice) at the liquid-air interface in an attempt to reconstitute a functional epidermis in vitro. Although the multilayered epithelium thus obtained is well differentiated, as shown by the presence of keratohyaline granules and horny layer, several differences from its in vivo counterpart were also observed: In the reconstructed epidermis, basal keratinocytes do not have the cuboidal shape found in vivo; they synthesize bullous pemphigoid antigen and laminin, but the distribution of these antigens is not linear as in vivo; they contain the plasma-membrane antigens restricted to the basal layer in vivo (VM1, BC1), but these antigens are not polarized; lack of polarization is also evidenced by the distribution of actin. Differentiation markers appear but with a topography slightly different from that of epidermis in vivo; the 67-kD keratin does not appear in the first suprabasal layer as in vivo but above; involucrin, which appears in the granular layers in vivo appears as soon as the cells leave the basal layer. psi 3 antigen and fibronectin found in vivo only in hyperproliferative epidermis (wound healing, psoriasis) are detected. Hyperproliferation would also explain the unexpected straining of basal cells by KL1 monoclonal antibody. Because of the potential clinical or pharmacologic use of artificial epidermis, the question of whether the epidermis obtained in vitro can be considered as "normal" is discussed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Differentiation of keratinocytes in vitro: a new culture vessel mimicking the in vivo situation.

A culture vessel consisting of two independent chambers separated only by the growth substrate is described. Cells may be cultured on both sides of the growth substrate. Culture medium and gas exposure can independently be controlled in both compartments. Human hair follicles have been used as source of keratinocytes and the bovine eye lens capsule has been explored as growth substrate. The presence of 5% CO2 in air in the lower compartment appears to have a significant effect on the morphology of the cultures. When the cultures are being exposed to air with 5% CO2, the culture medium being applied in the lower compartment, formation of corneocytes characteristic for adult stratum corneum is induced, as evidenced by light and electron microscopy. To the knowledge of the authors, this stage of differentiation in vitro has not been obtained with previously described systems. Differentiation of the lower cell layers has been characterised with specific antibodies. The possible use of the system for applied and pure scientific research is discussed.

Animals↗

Epidermal morphogenesis and induction of the 67 kD keratin polypeptide by culture of human keratinocytes at the liquid-air interface.

Culture in the presence of delipidized serum (i.e., in the absence of vitamin A) has been shown to allow terminal differentiation of human keratinocytes, both in terms of morphological appearance and in terms of 67 kD keratin polypeptide synthesis (Fuchs, E & Green, H, Cell 25 (1981) 617) [2]. Culture at the liquid-air interface is known to induce morphological differentiation in a variety of culture systems designed for keratinocytes (Pruniéras, M et al., J invest dermatol 81 (1983) 28s) [3]. We report here that human keratinocytes grown on a dermal equivalent (or lattice) in the presence of total serum are able to express the 67 kD keratin polypeptide, provided that the culture is raised at the liquid-air interface. Loss of contact with air results in switching off this synthesis.

Cell Differentiation↗

In vitro effect of UV radiation on immune function and membrane markers of human Langerhans cells.

Human Langerhans cells (LC) are located in the epidermal tissue which is naturally accessible to UV irradiation. They may be the first immunocompetent cells exposed to its effect. In the present study, the epidermal tissue was dissociated with trypsin, and epidermal cell (EC) suspensions, which contain keratinocytes, melanocytes, and LC were irradiated with UVB (10 or 20 mJ/cm2). After irradiation LC retained their surface determinants: T-6 and HLA-Dr. In addition, their number did not decrease during 3 days of culture following UVB exposure as compared with nonirradiated EC cultured in parallel. On the contrary, UV irradiation of EC resulted in decreased lymphocyte-stimulating ability in a mixed skin cell-lymphocyte culture reaction (MSLR). EC used directly after irradiation in MSLR induced about half the lymphocyte response compared to nonirradiated EC. After 24-h culture, the irradiated EC did not produce any lymphocyte response, whereas the 48-h cultures showed a slight lymphocyte stimulation. At 72 h the cultures from irradiated and nonirradiated EC showed similar responses in MSLR. The doses of UV radiation which decreased MSLR responses did not affect EC viability and did not significantly reduce their DNA content. It is suggested that under the experimental conditions used in this study the defect induced by UV irradiation was essentially functional and was the result of the transient inhibition of the antigen processing function of LC rather than of an alteration in membrane antigen expression (T-6 and HLA-Dr).

Cell Membrane↗

The reconstitution of living skin.

A living-skin equivalent useful as a skin replacement and as a model system for basic studies has been fabricated and tested extensively. It consists of two components: (1) a dermal equivalent made up of fibroblasts in a collagen matrix that is contracted and modified by the resident cells, and (2) an epidermis that develops from keratinocytes "plated" on the dermal equivalent. A multilayered keratinizing epidermis with desmosomes, tonofilaments, and hemidesmosomes forms. Basement lamella formation occurs within 2 weeks in vitro when rat cells are used. With human cells, crypt or pseudofollicular morphogenesis is observed in vitro within 3 weeks after plating cells on the dermal equivalent. Autografts and isografts of rat-skin equivalents made with cultured cells from biopsies are rapidly vascularized, block wound contraction, and persist essentially for the lifespan of the host. Seven to 9 days after grafting, donor cells become activated biosynthetically and mitotically. By 1 year, the dermal population decreases to a normal level and the matrix has been extensively remodeled. The grafts remain free of hair and sebaceous glands. Grafts to rats have been in place for over 2 years. Now, allografts of dermal equivalents have been made across a major histocompatibility barrier and are not rejected. The persistence of cellular elements of the grafts is monitored by use of a genetic marker. Challenge of the allograft with a second skin-equivalent graft after 1 month does not result in rejection of the original graft or of the second skin-equivalent graft. We propose that allografts of tissue equivalents are tolerated because cells with class II antigens are selected against during in vitro cultivation and are excluded from the graft. Thus the fabrication of skin-equivalent tissues or of other equivalent tissues with parenchymal cells that do not bear class II antigens may render transplants of such tissues immunologically acceptable despite the presence of allogeneic cells. The capacity to graft across major histocompatibility barriers using living tissue equivalents may have important clinical significance.

Animals↗

Presence of serum albumin in normal human epidermis: possible implications for the nutrition and physiology of stratified epithelia. Presence of albumin in epidermis.

In this paper, using both immunofluorescence and protein biochemistry techniques, we present definitive evidence that plasma proteins such as albumin are present within normal human epidermis. This result confirms several previous reports supporting the idea that relatively large molecules can diffuse through the epidermal basement membrane into epidermis. Our results bring new insights for discussing how hydrophobic ligands or drugs present in the bloodstream and bound to plasmatic carriers can reach epidermal cells of all layers.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗

Prolylhydroxylase activation in IMR 90 fibroblasts: state of differentiation rather than population doubling level determines requirements for enzyme activation.

The stimulation of prolylhydroxylase activity by ascorbate in IMR 90 fibroblasts grown as monolayer decreases with increasing population doubling level, but the enzyme is not stimulated in IMR 90 fibroblasts of either low or high population doubling level incorporated into collagen lattices in which they cease to divide. The capacity to be activated is restored when cells are released from the lattice. We consider that reduction of stimulation of prolylhydroxylase activity by ascorbate as the population doubling level of cells grown as monolayer increases is not a phenomenon of cell aging. Rather, it is due to an increase in the size of the noncycling subpopulation whose state of differentiation is not the same as that of cells in cycle.

Cell Differentiation↗