Changes in the abundance and distribution of actin and associated proteins during terminal differentiation of human epidermal keratinocytes

We have examined the abundance and distribution of actin and several actin-associated proteins in human epidermal keratinocytes before and after initiation of terminal differentiation. Keratinocytes were placed in suspension in methylcellulose for 1 h or 24 h and then extracted for immunoblotting. At 24 h, when the proportion of cells expressing the terminal differentiation marker, involucrin, had increased approximately 3-fold, there were marked decreases in the levels of vinculin, talin, filamin and gelsolin. The level of actin was unchanged and the level of alpha-actinin decreased only slightly. To complement the immunoblot analysis, we also examined the distribution of each protein in basal (involucrin-negative) and suprabasal (involucrin-positive) cells in stratified colonies, using confocal microscopy. Gelsolin, filamin, vinculin, talin, alpha-actinin and filamentous actin were all less abundant in suprabasal cells than in basal cells. There were also differences in the distribution of all the proteins in the basal compared to the suprabasal layers. In addition to the changes associated with terminal differentiation, there was variation in the distribution of focal contacts and stress fibres and in gelsolin levels between basal cells at the periphery of colonies and those in the centre. These results are discussed in the context of the known association of the actin cytoskeleton with receptors of the integrin family, the loss of integrins that occurs during keratinocyte terminal differentiation, and the possible role of the cytoskeleton in signalling between integrins and the nucleus.