Gene Loss

Publication Details

Identifier: JB_XDZIDN

Curator: Gonçalo Themudo

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17782-4

PMID: 29234126

Title:

Epidermal cornification is preceded by the expression of a keratinocyte-specific set of pyroptosis-related genes.

Abstract:

The homeostasis of the epidermis depends on keratinocyte differentiation and cornification, a mode of programmed cell death that does not elicit inflammation. Here, we report that cornification is associated with the expression of specific genes that control multiple steps of pyroptosis, another form of cell death that involves the processing and release of interleukin-1 family (IL1F) cytokines. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory IL1A and IL1B and of the pyroptotic pore-forming gasdermin (GSDM) D were downregulated during terminal differentiation of human keratinocytes in vitro. By contrast, negative regulators of IL-1 processing, including NLR family pyrin domain containing 10 (NLRP10) and pyrin domain-containing 1 (PYDC1), the anti-inflammatory IL1F members IL-37 (IL1F7) and IL-38 (IL1F10), and GSDMA, were strongly induced in differentiated keratinocytes. In human tissues, these keratinocyte differentiation-associated genes are expressed in the skin at higher levels than in any other organ, and mammalian species, that have lost the epidermal cornification program during evolution, i.e. whales and dolphins, lack homologs of these genes. Together, our results suggest that human epidermal cornification is accompanied by a tight control of pyroptosis and warrant further studies of potential defects in the balance between cornification and pyroptosis in skin pathologies.

Last update:

16-01-2025

Associated Glosses (62 results)

GlossID	Species	Symbol	Gene Loss Mechanism	Loss Type	Lineage Specific	Citation
GL_Y1XZVO	Orcinus orca	IL1F10	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1038/s41598-017-17782-4
GL_YJC2WB	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	IL36A	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1038/s41598-017-17782-4