Role of the ERK pathway in the proliferation and differentiation of human epidermal stem cells

Li Bing; Wang Jun-ai

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.45.018

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Epidermal stem cel s (ESCs) cultured in vitro can easily become differentiated and aged, but have limited proliferation ability. These characters limit the application and development of ESCs in skin tissue engineering. Increasing understanding of the regulatory mechanism of ESCs proliferation and differentiation would lay the theoretical foundation for the clinical application of ESCs. <br> OBJECTIVE:To identify the role of the ERK pathway in the proliferation and differentiation of ESCs. <br> METHODS:ESCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. The activity of the ERK pathway was blocked by PD98059 and the activation of the ERK pathway was conducted by PMA or transfecting MEK1 recombinant plasmid to enable the overexpression of MEK1. The effect of activation or blockage of the ERK pathway on the proliferation and colony formation ability of ESCs was detected by MTT and colony formation assay, respectively. The expression of ESCs markers K19 andβ1-integrin and differentiated cel marker K10 was detected by western blot. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:When the activity of the ERK pathway was blocked by PD98059, the proliferation and colony formation abilities of ESCs were inhibited and the differentiation was enhanced. On the contrary, activating the ERK pathway by PMA or upregulation of MEK1 enhanced the proliferation and colony formation abilities of ESCs but inhibited the cel differentiation. These results indicate that the ERK pathway plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of ESCs.