Study of the role of CD44 variant recognized by KM48 monoclonal antibody in Skin SCC

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860904
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: TEYE KWESI 久留米大学, 皮膚細胞生物学研究所, 研究員 (30599303)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: KM48 / CD44 / Skin SCC / Keratinocyte

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this project is to identify the variant of CD44 recognized by KM48 antibody and to assess its functional role in normal and human skin cancer by various methods. Expression of more than 800 transcripts of CD44 is possible but not all are expressed and the expression is tissue and context dependent. For the first time, all CD44 transcripts in human epidermis were isolated. It was found that human epidermis express a total of 18 transcripts. Because KM48 expression is lost in SCC, regulation of expression of CD44 transcripts was analyzed and compared between normal and malignant keratinocytes. It was found that malignant and normal keratinocytes produce different CD44 transcripts and respond differently to serum stimulation and subsequent serum starvation. By designing an optimal expression system, we were able to identify the CD44 variant recognized by the KM48 antibody. Our studies should aid further studies of CD44/KM48 function in human skin.

Free Research Field

皮膚科