Topography and biological role of integrins in human skin

We report the topography of integrins in the human epidermis and in cultured human keratinocytes. Both in situ and in vitro β1 integrins are exposed at the cell-cell adhesion interface while β4 is located on the basal membrane in contact with the basal lamina. Such defined sorting identifies discrete cell membrane domains that may be involved in defining, building up, and maintaining epithelial cell polarity. The distribution of integrins is deeply altered in hyperproliferative states like those occurring in several experimental conditions and in epidermal diseases.