Epidermal inactivation of the glucocorticoid receptor triggers skin barrier defects and cutaneous inflammation.

Abstract

The glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (GR) mediates the effects of physiological and pharmacological GC ligands and has a major role in cutaneous pathophysiology. To dissect the epithelial versus mesenchymal contribution of GR in developing and adult skin, we generated mice with keratinocyte-restricted GR inactivation (GR epidermal knockout or GR(EKO) mice). Developing and early postnatal GR(EKO) mice exhibited impaired epidermal barrier formation, abnormal keratinocyte differentiation, hyperproliferation, and stratum corneum (SC) fragility. At birth, GR(EKO) epidermis showed altered levels of epidermal differentiation complex genes, proteases and protease inhibitors which participate in SC maintenance, and innate immunity genes. Many upregulated genes, including S100a8/a9 and Tslp, also have increased expression in inflammatory skin diseases. Infiltration of macrophages and degranulating mast cells were observed in newborn GR(EKO) skin, hallmarks of atopic dermatitis. In addition to increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation, GR(EKO) newborn and adult epidermis had increased levels of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, a feature of psoriasis. Although adult GR(EKO) epidermis had a mild phenotype of increased proliferation, perturbation of skin homeostasis with detergent or phorbol ester triggered an exaggerated proliferative and hyperkeratotic response relative to wild type. Together, our results show that epidermal loss of GR provokes skin barrier defects and cutaneous inflammation.

• Authors: Lisa M Sevilla, Víctor Latorre, Ana Sanchis, Paloma Pérez
• Journal: The Journal of investigative dermatology (J Invest Dermatol) Vol. 133 Issue 2 Pg. 361-70 (Feb 2013) ISSN: 1523-1747 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22951731 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Genetic Markers
• Receptors, Glucocorticoid
• STAT3 Transcription Factor
• Stat3 protein, mouse
• Akt1 protein, mouse
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Cell Differentiation (physiology)
• Cell Proliferation
• Dermatitis (genetics, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Epidermal Cells
• Epidermis (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Female
• Genetic Markers (physiology)
• Keratinocytes (cytology, physiology)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (physiology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Pregnancy
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Receptors, Glucocorticoid (genetics, metabolism)
• STAT3 Transcription Factor (metabolism)
• Skin Tests
• Up-Regulation (physiology)