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Human keratinocytes respond to direct current stimulation by increasing intracellular calcium: Preferential response of poorly differentiated cells
Author(s) -
Dubé Jean,
RochetteDrouin Olivier,
Lévesque Philippe,
Gauvin Robert,
Roberge Charles J.,
Auger François A.,
Goulet Daniel,
Bourdages Michel,
Plante Michel,
Moulin Véronique J.,
Germain Lucie
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.23008
Subject(s) - intracellular , calcium in biology , microbiology and biotechnology , involucrin , calcium , extracellular , calcium signaling , endogeny , wound healing , stimulation , calcium channel , biology , keratinocyte , chemistry , in vitro , immunology , endocrinology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Abstract A direct current (DC) endogenous electric field (EF) is induced in the wound following skin injury. It is potentially implicated in the wound healing process by attracting cells and altering their phenotypes as indicated by the response to an EF of keratinocytes cultured as individual cells. To better define the signalization induced by a direct current electric field (DCEF) in human keratinocytes, we took advantage of an in vitro model more representative of the in vivo situation since it promotes cell–cell interactions and stratification. Human keratinocytes were grown into colonies. Their exposure to a DCEF of physiological intensity induced an increase of intracellular calcium. This variation of intracellular calcium resulted from an extracellular calcium influx and was mediated, at least in part, by the L‐type voltage‐gated calcium channel. The increase in intracellular calcium in response to a DCEF was however not observed in all the cells composing the colonies. The intracellular calcium increase was only detected in keratinocytes that didn't express involucrin, a marker of differentiated cells. These results indicate that DCEF is able to induce a specific calcium response in poorly differentiated keratinocytes. This study brings a new perspective for the understanding of the signaling mechanism of endogenous EF in reepithelialization, a critical process during skin wound healing. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 2660–2667, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.