Different Consequences of β1 Integrin Deletion in Neonatal and Adult Mouse Epidermis Reveal a Context-Dependent Role of Integrins in Regulating Proliferation, Differentiation, and Intercellular Communication

There are conflicting reports of the consequences of deleting β1 integrins from the epidermis of transgenic mice. Epidermal thinning with normal differentiation and lack of inflammation has been observed; conversely, epidermal thickening, abnormal differentiation, and dermal fibrosis can occur. β1 integrin deletion results in decreased epidermal proliferation, yet on wounding the proliferative defect is overcome. To distinguish primary from secondary consequences of β1 integrin loss, we compared epidermal β1 deletion at E14.5 via K5Cre and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen induced deletion in adulthood via K14CreER. As reported previously, there was dermo-epidermal splitting, inflammation, reduced proliferation, and hair follicle and sebaceous gland loss in 30-d-old K5Cre β1-null mice. These changes were not observed 30 d after β1 integrin deletion in adult epidermis, however, and there were no changes in the hair follicle stem cell compartment. Deletion in adult epidermis revealed a previously unreported correlation between the level of β1 integrins and proliferation in the interfollicular epidermis that was remarkably consistent with human epidermis. In addition, the number of melanocytes in interfollicular epidermis was greatly increased. Our results highlight the context-dependent effects of β1 integrin deletion and suggest that inflammation may be responsible for some of the K5Cre β1-null phenotype.