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. 1997 Mar;120(6):1119–1127. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0701015

Effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its 20-epi analogues (MC 1288, MC 1301, KH 1060), on clonal keratinocyte growth: evidence for differentiation of keratinocyte stem cells and analysis of the modulatory effects of cytokines

Robert Gniadecki 1,*
PMCID: PMC1564575  PMID: 9134225

Abstract

  1. Keratinocytes are functionally divided into stem cells, transit amplifying cells and terminally differentiated cells. In a hyperproliferative skin disease, psoriasis, increased mitotic activity of the stem cells is chiefly responsible for epidermal hyperplasia. The effects of 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and potent vitamin D3 analogues (MC 1288: 20-epi-1,25(OH)2D3, MC 1301: 20-epi-24a-homo-26,27-dimethyl-1,25(OH)2D3, KH 1060: 20-epi-22-oxa-24a-homo-26,27-dimethyl-1,25(OH)2D3) on the stem cells were investigated.

  2. Stem cells were identified retrospectively as those giving rise to large keratinocyte colonies in culture (holoclones). 1,25(OH)2D3 (10−8–10−6 M) suppressed formation of holoclones by stimulating the progenitor cell differentiation into the phenotype expressing differentiation markers (keratins K1/K10 and involucrin).

  3. 20-Epi vitamin D3 analogues were more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3 in inhibiting the clonal keratinocyte growth. This activity correlated with the ability to induce cell differentiation (KH 1060>MC 1301>MC 1288>1,25(OH)2D3).

  4. Cytokines modulated the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on clonal growth. One of the following cytokines (epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor α, interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8) was required for 1,25(OH)2D3 to suppress clonal growth and induce cell differentiation. In contrast, keratinocyte growth factor and insulin-like growth factor I attenuated the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3.

  5. In conclusion, 1,25(OH)2D3 and 20-epi vitamin D3 analogues suppress clonal growth by directly inducing the differentiation of progenitor cells. It is conceivable that stimulation of stem cells differentiation is a major mechanism of action of vitamin D3 compounds in psoriasis. Balance between different types of cytokines in psoriatic epidermis may be an important factor determining the clinical effect of vitamin D-based therapy.

Keywords: Vitamin D, vitamin D-analogues, keratinocyte, stem cell, differentiation, cytokines

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