1. ^*Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, U.S.A.
2. ^†Department of Dermatology, SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, U.S.A.

Correspondence: Lorne Taichman, SUNY at Stony Brook, Westchester Hall (Room 201), Stony Brook, NY 11794-8702, U.S.A.

Received 17 June 1998; Revised 19 October 1998; Accepted 20 January 1999.

Abstract

Proteins secreted by epidermal keratinocytes are known to engage in functions other than those directly associated with barrier formation. We have used a previously published culture model to collect proteins secreted by adult human epidermal keratinocytes. Electrophoresis and microsequencing allowed us to identify 20 proteins. The list of proteins includes those known to be produced by keratinocytes (-2 microglobulin, IG-H3, calgranulin A, cathepsin B and D, E-cadherin, gelatinase B, gelsolin, interstitial collagenase, laminin B2t, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, protein 14–3-3, SCC antigen, stratifin, and translationally controlled tumor protein) as well as those not previously known to be secreted by keratinocytes (epididymis secretory protein, maspin, and anti-neoplastic urinary protein). In addition, two proteins were identified that are not known to be secreted (glutathione-S-transferase and heat shock protein 27/28 kDa). The varied nature of the proteins identified suggests that epidermal keratinocytes have physiologic functions that have yet to be identified.