Epigenetic Regulation of Epidermal Differentiation

Abstract

The epidermis is the outer part of the skin that protects the organism from dehydration and shields from external insults. Epidermal cells, called keratinocytes, undergo a series of morphological and metabolic changes that allow them to establish the biochemical and structural elements of an effective epidermal barrier. This process, known as epidermal differentiation, is critical for the maintenance of the epidermis under physiological conditions and also under stress or in various skin pathologies. Epidermal differentiation relies on a highly coordinated program of gene expression. Epigenetic mechanisms, which commonly include DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, and microRNA (miRNA) activity, modulate various stages of gene expression by altering chromatin accessibility and mRNA stability. Their involvement in epidermal differentiation is a matter of intensive studies, and the results obtained thus far show a complex network of epigenetic factors, acting together with transcriptional regulators, to maintain epidermal homeostasis and counteract adverse effects of environmental stressors.

A review on Epigenome Editing using CRISPR-based Tools to Rejuvenate Skin Tissues

“…This process, known as epidermal differentiation, is very important to maintain the epidermis under physiological conditions as well as stress or in various skin pathologies [65,66]. Epidermal differentiation relies on a highly coordinated program of gene expression [67][68][69]. In addition to these regulators, epigenetic regulation through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNA activity also play an important role in the process of keratinocyte differentiation and epidermal layering during homeostasis and after wound injuries [70,71].…”

Dynamics and Epigenetics of the Epidermal Differentiation Complex

“…In this regard identification of the EDC gene cluster spurred a research effort aiming to determine how these genes were regulated and whether their expression was coordinated across the whole cluster, at the gene family level or individually. Since the process of epidermal differentiation is known to be under epigenetic control [ 6 , 7 , 8 ] much attention has been paid to epigenetic factors involved in regulation of EDC gene expression. Epigenetic factors shape the chromatin architecture to enable, or block, promoter-enhancer and other types of DNA interactions, which, in turn, control transcription.…”