Authors: Amy Lai Abdi Ghaffari Aziz Ghahary
Publish Date: 2010/06/30
Volume: 343, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 191-199
Abstract
Aminopeptidase N APN/CD13 is a widely expressed transmembrane ectoenzyme and has been implicated in a myriad of physiological processes that are specific to cell type and tissue origin including cancer cell metastasis angiogenesis cholesterol uptake apoptosis and cell migration Skin cells in particular fibroblasts have a relatively high level of APN/CD13 expression The migratory capacity of skin cells is critical for the outcome of wound repair as successful wound healing requires timely reepithelialization which involves reformation of epithelium over wound surface by migrating keratinocytes While failure of keratinocytes to undergo proper migration leads to chronic nonhealing wounds the presence of excess fibroblasts may contribute to formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids The aim of this study was to investigate the role of APN/CD13 in skin cell migration and explore its potential as a therapeutic target in wound healing Our results show an elevated expression of APN/CD13 in fibroblasts on the edge of the wound compared to unwounded cells The presence of antiAPN/CD13 antibodies WM15 3D8 and H300 reduces the migratory activity of human dermal fibroblasts in a dosedependent manner by 42 21 and 28 respectively However the antibodies have no effect on keratinocyte migration Further none of the antiAPN/CD13 antibodies used in this study has any antiproliferative and cytotoxic effect on primary human keratinocytes or fibroblasts when used at 10 μg/ml in vitro The differential inhibition on the migratory capacity of fibroblasts and keratinocytes presents an opportunity for antiAPN/CD13 antibodies to be used as a therapeutic agent for high fibroblast cellularity seen in fibroproliferative disorders
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