Functional analysis of the nuclear localization signal of the POU transcription factor Skn‑1a in epidermal keratinocytes.

POU domain proteins are a family of critical regulators of development and differentiation due to their transcriptional activity in the nucleus. Skn‑1a, a member of the POU domain protein family, appears to be expressed predominantly in epidermal keratinocytes and is thought to play a critical role in keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation. In this study, we examined the mechanisms involved in the nuclear localization of Skn‑1a.

Differential regulation of karyopherin alpha 2 expression by TGF-beta1 and IFN-gamma in normal human epidermal keratinocytes: evident contribution of KPNA2 for nuclear translocation of IRF-1.

Despite a number of studies on signal transduction in epidermal keratinocytes, very little is known about how signals move from the cytosol to the nucleus during the course of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we first compared the expression patterns of the karyopherin alpha (KPNA) subtypes, and found that KPNA2, KPNA3, and KPNA4 were the major subtypes in both normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Stimulation with either transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 or IFN-gamma for 24 hours resulted in the downregulation of KPNA2 expression specifically in NHEK at both the mRNA and protein levels.

A case of bullous dermatitis artefacta possibly induced by a deodorant spray.

Dermatitis artefacta is one of a spectrum of factitious diseases etiologically responsible for skin lesions denied by patients. These factors often make it difficult to identify the causative agents of the condition. Herein, we report a case of bullous dermatitis artefacta in a 12-year-old girl, for which a deodorant spray was suspected as the probable cause.