Differential Expression of Collagens XII and XIV in Human Skin and in Reconstructed Skin

Abstract

Collagens XII and XIV localize near the surface of collagen fibrils and may be involved in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions as well as in the modulation of tissue biomechanical properties. Moreover, human skin fibroblasts cultured in monolayer are known to lose their ability to produce collagen XIV and to switch the transcription of collagen XII from the small splice variant (220 kDa) to the large (320 kDa), whereas the small form is the main form found in human skin. We have investigated the expression patterns of these two molecules in human skin as a function of donor age and anatomic site, by using immunohistology with specific monoclonal antibodies. We demonstrated changes in the expression patterns of collagens XII and XIV in human skin after birth. Moreover, in adult scalp skin, very strong staining of collagen XII fibril bundles was observed around hair follicles, in association with very low expression of collagen XIV. We also investigated the expression of collagens XII and XIV by fibroblasts and keratinocytes cultured in a reconstructed skin. In these culture conditions, fibroblasts recovered their ability to produce collagen XIV and re-expressed the small splice variant of collagen XII. These results could be explained by the deposition of large amounts of collagen fibrils by fibroblasts in this culture system. Thus, the re-expression of these collagens suggests that the deposition of banded collagen fibrils is a pre-requisite for the expression of collagen XIV and small variant of collagen XII.

Identification of novel molecular markers which correlate with HPV-induced tumor progression

“…However, strong expression is detected in stromal tissue lining of most high grade lesions and most cervical cancers. Collagen XII expression is known to be upregulated in in¯ammatory tissue, bone resorption and regeneration, and wound healing (Berthod et al, 1997). It is expressed in many tissues Our study underlines the use of cell culture model systems for HPV-induced tumorigenesis to de®ne molecular markers which may be speci®c for tumorigenic progression.…”

Fibroblast heterogeneity: more than skin deep

“…By contrast, versican associates with microfibrils in the papillary dermis, but is more extensively expressed in elastic fibers of the reticular dermis (Zimmermann et al, 1994;Sorrell et al, 1999a). The non-fibrillar collagen types XII and XVI, along with tenascin-C, are characteristically found in the papillary dermis; whereas, collagen type IV and tenascin-X are primarily restricted to the reticular dermis (Lightner et al, 1993;Wälchli et al, 1994;Lethias et al, 1996;Berthod et al, 1997;Akagi et al, 1999;Grässel et al, 1999).…”

Collagens XII and XIV: Two collagen types both associated with bovine muscle and intramuscular lipid metabolism

“…Anti-type XII (clone 20H2) and anti-type XIV collagen (clone 15B8) were diluted to 1/50. Anti-type XII and XIV were previously characterized (Aubert-Foucher et al, 1992;Berthod et al, 1997). Membranes were washed 2 x 10 min in T-TBS 1X and hybridized with the second antibody associated with horseradish peroxidase for chemiluminescence detection (IgG sheep anti-mouse, NA931…”

“…These two collagens may present differences in their expression pattern but also be co-localized. For example, during chicken embryonic development (Wälchli et al, 1994) and in skin, they have distinct localizations (Berthod et al, 1997), but in fetal and adult skeletal musclen, they are expressed at the same time in the perimysium (Listrat et al, 2000).…”