Functional glycine receptor in cultured human keratinocytes

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that a series of neural receptors, those play a crucial role in nerve system, also expressed in epidermal keratinocytes. We also demonstrated that topical application of glycine on hairless mice skin after the barrier disruption also accelerated the barrier recovery and it was blocked by the strychnine. Glycine is known as one of the most important inhibitory neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system. Thus, we hypothesized that glycine receptor also functionally expressed in the epidermal keratinocytes. In the present study, we first studied the expression of glycine receptor message in cultured human keratinocytes. Then we demonstrate for the first time the existence of a functional receptor with electrophysiological properties of glycine receptors in cultured human epidermal keratinocytes. Finally, we demonstrated immune-histochemical study against anti-glycine receptor subunits in human skin. Results of the present study might indicate new target of the clinical dermatology.