Low calcium culture condition induces mesenchymal cell-like phenotype in normal human epidermal keratinocytes

► Normal human epidermal keratinocytes serially cultured under low calcium concentration were cytokeratin and vimentin double positive cells. ► The human keratinocytes expressed some epithelial stem/progenitor cell makers, mesenchymal cell markers, and markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. ► Mesenchymal cell-like phenotype in the keratinocytes was suppressed under high-calcium condition.