Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2791756 Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2013 13 Pages PDF
Abstract

The epidermis is a stratified squamous epithelium composed of proliferating basal and differentiated suprabasal keratinocytes. It serves as the body's major physical and chemical barrier against infection and harsh environmental insults, as well as preventing excess water loss from the body into the atmosphere. Calcium is a key regulator of the proliferation and differentiation in keratinocytes. Elevated extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) raises the levels of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), promotes cell–cell adhesion, and activates differentiation-related genes. Keratinocytes deficient in the calcium-sensing receptor fail to respond to [Ca2+]o stimulation and to differentiate, indicating a role for the calcium-sensing receptor in transducing the [Ca2+]o signal during differentiation. The concepts derived from in vitro gene knockdown experiments have been evaluated and confirmed in three mouse models in vivo.

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