Ultrastructural localization of basigin in normal human epidermis

Abstract

Basigin is a glycosylated transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is thought to play roles in intercellular recognition involved in cell differentiation. We previously demonstrated at the light microscope level a correlation between basigin expression and epidermal differentiation. In the present study, the ultrastructural localization of basigin in normal human epidermal keratinocytes was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy. The basigin labeling was strongest on membranes of basal cells, weaker on prickle cells, and absent in granular and horny cells. On the membrane of basal cells, labeling was observed on the apical and lateral sides but not on the dermal side. Gold particles were mostly observed on the surface of microvilli, especially on their tips. There were fewer on the intermicrovillous membrane and they were absent on the desmosome. These results are consistent with our previous report that basigin expression is correlated with differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. Microvilli on basal and suprabasal keratinocytes might play roles in the differentiation of keratinocytes through basigin on the tips of microvilli.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer/CD147 promotes myofibroblast differentiation by inducing α‐smooth muscle actin expression and collagen gel contraction: implications in tissue remodeling

“…EMMPRIN itself was shown to be able to induce its own expression in neighboring cells ( Fig. 4; 19, 31), and because it is particularly enriched on the surface of epithelial cells (32,38), it has the potential, following injury involving basement membrane rupture, to induce increased expression in stromal cells. Because EMMPRIN can be shed from the cell surface (39), it also can act as a diffusible factor, reaching other cells in the vicinity.…”

“…EMMPRIN was found, for example, to increase the synthesis of hyluronan (44) and vascular endothelial growth factor (45) in tumor cells and thus was implicated in other aspects of tumor progression, such as tumor survival and angiogenesis. A role for EMMPRIN in differentiation also was evoked based on its localization in the basal layers, but not the superficial layers, of the epithelia of dermis (38,46) and cornea (19), suggesting that EMMPRIN is expressed in actively differentiating cells of normal epithelia. In this study, we further demonstrate a role for EMMPRIN in the differentiation of myofibroblasts through the up-regulation of their contractile properties.…”

CD147 promotes the proliferation, invasiveness, migration and angiogenesis of human lung carcinoma cells

“…It stimulates fibroblasts to produce matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (4)(5)(6)(7)(8), which control basement membrane components and the remodeling of extracellular matrix macromolecules, promote tumor invasion and metastasis and induce tumor angiogenesis (9)(10)(11). Keratinocytes primarily express low levels of CD147 in normal cells of the thymic epithelium as do retinal pigment epithelial cells, but in malignant tumors CD147 expression is often increased, and has been observed in lung, ovarian and liver cancer cells (12)(13)(14).…”

Chemotherapeutic Effect of CD147 Antibody-labeled Micelles Encapsulating Doxorubicin Conjugate Targeting CD147-Expressing Carcinoma Cells

“…Various physiological processes, such as proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells (37)(38)(39), fertilization (40), differentiation and activation of immune cells (41)(42)(43), integrin-mediated adhesion of myocytes of the left heart ventricle to basement membrane components (44), selective transport processes in endothelial cells to maintain bloodbrain barrier function (45), erythrocyte maturation (46) and wound healing (47) might potentially be influenced by anti-CD147 therapy (9). Thus, potential side-effects of CD147targeted conjugate therapy should be carefully evaluated.…”