Life before and beyond blistering: The role of collagen XVII in epidermal physiology. Issue 10 (28th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Natsuga, Ken; Watanabe, Mika; Nishie, Wataru; Shimizu, Hiroshi
• Other Names: Bauer Johann W. guestEditor.; Bodemer Christine guestEditor.; Schmuth Matthias guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Experimental dermatology. Volume 28:Issue 10(2019)
• Page Start: 1135
• Page End: 1141
• Publication Date: 2018-06-28
• Subjects: bullous pemphigoid -- COL17A1 -- collagen XVII -- epidermal stem cells -- epidermolysis bullosa; Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/exd.13550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0906-6705

Abstract

Abstract: Type XVII collagen (COL17) is a transmembranous protein that is mainly expressed in the epidermal basal keratinocytes. Epidermal‐dermal attachment requires COL17 expression at the hemidesmosomes of the epidermal basement membrane zone because congenital COL17 deficiency leads to junctional epidermolysis bullosa and acquired autoimmunity to COL17 induces bullous pemphigoid. Recently, in addition to facilitating epidermal‐dermal attachment, COL17 has been reported to serve as a niche for hair follicle stem cells, to regulate proliferation in the interfollicular epidermis and to be present along the non‐hemidesmosomal plasma membrane of epidermal basal keratinocytes. This review focuses on the physiological properties of COL17 in the epidermis, its role in maintaining stem cells and its association with signalling pathways. We propose possible solutions to unanswered questions in this field.