According to Dr. Anderson from the University of Texas, the protein IKK-alpha (IKKa) regulates the cycle of keratinocytes and plays an important role in preventing malignant skin cells. Anderson’s research was featured in the September 9 issue of Cancer Cell.

Findings of the Research

"We have shown that IKKa acts as a sentry, monitoring and, when necessary, halting proliferation of these important cells. In the first mouse model of its kind, we also found that deleting IKKa spontaneously induced squamous cell carcinomas by activating the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway," said senior author Yinling Hu, PhD, assistant professor in M. D. Anderson's Department of Carcinogenesis at the Science Park - Research Division in Smithville, Texas. "These results provide new therapeutic targets for prevention of skin cancer."

Keratinocytes originate in the basal layer of the epidermis to replace skin cells at the surface that have been shed. As keratinocytes gradually move up through the skin layers, they differentiate and eventually form the top layer of the skin, which is composed of squamous cells. The cycle ends through terminal differentiation, in which cells lose their ability to reproduce by dividing in two. They eventually die.

Hu and colleagues reported in research last year that a reduction in IKKa expression promotes the development of chemically induced papillomas and carcinomas, which are benign and malignant tumours of the epithelium respectively. Epithelial cells make up the outer layers of skin and the inner linings of many organs, including the lungs and the gastrointestinal, reproductive and urinary tracts.  Most cancers originate in organ epithelial cells. The researchers also demonstrated that an intact IKKa gene is required to suppress skin cancer development.
      
Down regulation of IKKa has been noted in a variety of human squamous cell carcinomas, including those of the skin, oesophagus, lungs, and head and neck.

Source: Virtualskincentre news