On May 29, the research results by Professor Hirai at the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences on the role of PRSS3/mesotrypsin on keratinocyte cell behaviors were published in Scientific Reports. Within the skin epidermis, this protein primarily expresses in the upper layers of the stratified epidermis. Although prior studies have partially elucidated its functions using primary cultured keratinocytes, challenges persist due to these cells' differentiation-activated cell death program. In the present study, HaCaT keratinocytes, characterized by minimal endogenous mesotrypsin expression and sustained proliferation in differentiated states, were utilized to scrutinize the function of mesotrypsin further. Inducing exogenous mesotrypsin expression in the cells resulted in a flattened phenotype and reduced proliferative capacity. Moreover, these cells displayed altered F-actin assembly, enhanced E-cadherin adhesive activity, and facilitated tight junction formation without overtly influencing epidermal differentiation. These findings underscore mesotrypsin's potentially pivotal role in shaping the characteristic cellular morphology of upper epidermal layers.
 

Journal name: [Scientific Reports]

Article title: [PRSS3/mesotrypsin as a putative regulator of the biophysical characteristics of epidermal keratinocytes in superficial layers]

Author(s): [Moeko Kida, Junya Abe, Haruna Hori, Yohei Hirai]

DOI: [10.1038/s41598-024-63271-w]