Cholesterol and Lipid Rafts as Regulators of Signaling Through the EGF Receptor in Keratinocytes

Abstract

The EGF receptor (HER1/EGFR) and its cognate ligands are of considerable interest in epidermal biology and pathology. HER1/EGFR is expressed throughout the entire epidermis and its signaling has been shown involved in the control of keratinocyte proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. The signaling of HER1/EGFR can be modulated by the receptor’s immediate environment, particularly by its localization or not in lipid rafts. These membrane domains are nowadays described as heterogeneous dynamic signaling platforms where lipid molecules, cholesterol especially, are highly ordered and where transmembrane proteins encounter a specialized environment. Cholesterol depletion has been used in order to disorganize lipid rafts in keratinocytes and induces activation of HER1/EGFR (without ligand addition), as well as downstream signaling. The activation of p38 MAPK obtained after cholesterol depletion is responsible for the induction of involucrin expression while keratin expression is suppressed. However in keratinocytes recovering from cholesterol depletion the activation of p38 MAPK induces a strong expression of the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, a ligand of HER1/EGFR. Lipid rafts could thus be membrane platforms that regulate cell signaling in keratinocytes in normal, but also pathological conditions.