Review
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 6, 328-340 (April 2005) | doi:10.1038/nrm1619
The cornified envelope: a model of cell death in the skin
Eleonora Candi1, Rainer Schmidt2 & Gerry Melino1,3 About the authors
Abstract
The epidermis functions as a barrier against the environment by means of several layers of terminally differentiated, dead keratinocytes — the cornified layer, which forms the endpoint of epidermal differentiation and death. The cornified envelope replaces the plasma membrane of differentiating keratinocytes and consists of keratins that are enclosed within an insoluble amalgam of proteins, which are crosslinked by transglutaminases and surrounded by a lipid envelope. New insights into the molecular mechanisms and the physiological endpoints of cornification are increasing our understanding of the pathological defects of this unique form of programmed cell death, which is associated with barrier malfunctions and ichthyosis.
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Author affiliations
- Biochemistry Laboratory, IDI-IRCCS, c/o Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
- L'Orèal, Life Sciences Research, Clichy, France.
- Medical Research Council, Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, Leicester University, Lancaster Road, PO Box 138, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK.
Correspondence to: Gerry Melino1,3 Email: gm89@le.ac.uk
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