Cornified Cell Envelope of Cultured Normal Human Oral Keratinocyte

Objectives: Cornified cell envelope(CE) of human skin which have a role in the barrier function to protect the underlying tissue in dry condition. Human oral keratinocytes is in wet condition as saliva containing many proteases, growth factors, and many kinds of bacteria. Protective barrier of oral epithelium would be different from that of skin epithelium barrier. The purpose of this study was to examine the morphology, and to analysis the amino acid component in CE of cultured human normal oral keratinocyte. It will be helpful to study oral mucosal diseases through amino acid component analysis of CE.

Methods: Surface cell study of normal oral mucosa and oral mucosal lesions was restricted to examine the morphologic features by SEM and TEM. There is no reported about in vitro study on CE of normal human oral keratinocytes.

Results: Both group showed large areas of stratification, more compact, with irregular border and tightly apposed cells in 1.2mM. Cornified cell envelope exhibited a fairly regular pattern of microridges. Anastmotic ridges forming pit and microridges were arranged mostly in parallel rows with frequent branches. During the terminal differentiation in cultured NHEK and NHOK, insoluble cornified cell envelope formation was increased. Cultured NHEK showed Gln/Glu(Involuvrin), Gly(Loricrin), and Serine in descending order, while cultured NHOK showed Pro(SPR), Gln/Glu(Involucrin), and Gly(Loricrin) in descending order.

Conclusions: It suggested that although during the terminal differentiation in cultured NHEK and NHOK, insoluble cornified cell envelope formation was increased, major amino acid component of cultured NHEK(Gln/Glu) was different from that of cultured NHOK(pro).

Key words : Cornified Cell Envelope, Cultured NHOK, Protein analysis, SEM