Background: Involucrin, a component of the cell envelope, is a differenciation marker of epidermal keratinocytes. Although sebocytes is originated from the same stem cells with keratinocytes, it is not reported clearly whether or not involucrin is expressed in the cultured sebocytes.
Objective: We conducted this study to evaluate the expression of involucrin in cultured sebocytes.
Methods: Culture of sebocytes was performed with sebaceous gland obtained from human occipital scalp. Immunocytofluorescence and RT-PCR were conducted to examine the expression of involucrin in the cultured sebocytes. In addition, we explored changes of involucrin expression in cultured sebocytes in calcium (1.1 mMol)-, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-, EGF receptor inhibitor-, and tissue growth factor-α-treated groups. Facial skin was also prepared for mmunohistochemistry for involucrin.
Results: We observed that involucrin was expressed in cultured sebocytes and sebaceous glands of the facial skin. There was no difference in involucrin expression of cultured sebocytes in all treated groups compared with untreated group.
Conclusion: Involucrin is a differentiation marker of sebocytes like epidermal keratinocytes. The relationship between expression of involucrin and differentiation of sebocytes, and difference of sebocyte involucrin from epidermal keratinocyte involucrin should be more examined in the future.