Abstract
Anandamide (AEA) is a member of an endogenous class of lipid mediators, known as endocannabinoids, which are involved in various biological processes. In particular, AEA regulates cell growth, differentiation, and death. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that AEA controls also epidermal differentiation, one of the best characterized mechanisms of cell specialization. Indeed, the epidermis is a keratinized multistratified epithelium that functions as a barrier to protect the organism from dehydration, mechanical trauma, and microbial insults. Its function is established during embryogenesis and is maintained during the whole life span of the organism, through a complex and tightly controlled program, termed epidermal terminal differentiation (or cornification). Whereas the morphological changes that occur during cornification have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this process remain poorly understood. In this chapter, we summarize current knowledge about the molecular regulation of proliferation and terminal differentiation in mammalian epidermis. In this context, we show that endocannabinoids are finely regulated by, and can interfere with, the differentiation program. In addition, we review the role of AEA in the control of cornification, and show that it occurs by maintaining a transcriptional repression of gene expression through increased DNA methylation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 441-467 |
| Number of pages | 27 |
| Journal | Vitamins and Hormones |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | C |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
- Physiology
Cite this
Chapter 17 Regulation of Gene Transcription and Keratinocyte Differentiation by Anandamide. / Pasquariello, Nicoletta; Oddi, Sergio; Malaponti, Marinella; Maccarrone, Mauro.
In: Vitamins and Hormones, Vol. 81, No. C, 2009, p. 441-467.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Chapter 17 Regulation of Gene Transcription and Keratinocyte Differentiation by Anandamide
AU - Pasquariello, Nicoletta
AU - Oddi, Sergio
AU - Malaponti, Marinella
AU - Maccarrone, Mauro
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Anandamide (AEA) is a member of an endogenous class of lipid mediators, known as endocannabinoids, which are involved in various biological processes. In particular, AEA regulates cell growth, differentiation, and death. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that AEA controls also epidermal differentiation, one of the best characterized mechanisms of cell specialization. Indeed, the epidermis is a keratinized multistratified epithelium that functions as a barrier to protect the organism from dehydration, mechanical trauma, and microbial insults. Its function is established during embryogenesis and is maintained during the whole life span of the organism, through a complex and tightly controlled program, termed epidermal terminal differentiation (or cornification). Whereas the morphological changes that occur during cornification have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this process remain poorly understood. In this chapter, we summarize current knowledge about the molecular regulation of proliferation and terminal differentiation in mammalian epidermis. In this context, we show that endocannabinoids are finely regulated by, and can interfere with, the differentiation program. In addition, we review the role of AEA in the control of cornification, and show that it occurs by maintaining a transcriptional repression of gene expression through increased DNA methylation.
AB - Anandamide (AEA) is a member of an endogenous class of lipid mediators, known as endocannabinoids, which are involved in various biological processes. In particular, AEA regulates cell growth, differentiation, and death. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that AEA controls also epidermal differentiation, one of the best characterized mechanisms of cell specialization. Indeed, the epidermis is a keratinized multistratified epithelium that functions as a barrier to protect the organism from dehydration, mechanical trauma, and microbial insults. Its function is established during embryogenesis and is maintained during the whole life span of the organism, through a complex and tightly controlled program, termed epidermal terminal differentiation (or cornification). Whereas the morphological changes that occur during cornification have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this process remain poorly understood. In this chapter, we summarize current knowledge about the molecular regulation of proliferation and terminal differentiation in mammalian epidermis. In this context, we show that endocannabinoids are finely regulated by, and can interfere with, the differentiation program. In addition, we review the role of AEA in the control of cornification, and show that it occurs by maintaining a transcriptional repression of gene expression through increased DNA methylation.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67651154181&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0083-6729(09)81017-0
DO - 10.1016/S0083-6729(09)81017-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 19647122
AN - SCOPUS:67651154181
VL - 81
SP - 441
EP - 467
JO - Vitamins and Hormones
JF - Vitamins and Hormones
SN - 0083-6729
IS - C
ER -