Palmitoyl-RGD promotes the expression of dermal-epidermal junction components in HaCaT cells

With age, the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) becomes thinner and production of its protein components decreases; this may be associated with increased fragility and wrinkling of skin. Topical treatment with palmitoyl-Arg-Gly-Asp (PAL-RGD) improves facial wrinkles, skin elasticity and dermal density in humans. In the present study, the effect of PAL-RGD on expression of DEJ components, such as laminin and collagen, was assessed. Human HaCaT keratinocytes were treated with PAL-RGD. The protein expression levels of laminin-332, collagen IV and collagen XVII were examined by western blotting. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to analyze laminin subunit (LAM)A3, LAMB3, LAMC2, collagen type IV alpha 1 chain (COL4A1) and COL17A1 mRNA expression levels. Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of proteins comprising the DEJ, including laminin alpha 3, beta 3 and gamma 2 and collagen IV and XVII demonstrated a significant dose-dependent increase following PAL-RGD treatment. Furthermore, PAL-RGD treatment significantly enhanced LAMA3, LAMB3, LAMC2, COL4A1 and COL17A1 mRNA expression levels. PAL-RGD may enhance the DEJ by inducing the expression of laminin-332, collagen IV and collagen XVII.