Product and method for improving keratinocyte adhesion to the dermis

Abstract

A purified protein kalinin is disclosed that provides adhesion between epidermal keratinocytes and the underlying dermis. Purified kalinin localizes to the anchoring filaments of basement membranes or human subepithelial skin, trachea, esophagus, cornea and amnion when such areas are probed with BM165 monoclonal antibody after localization. The protein has a molecular weight of approximately 400-460 kDa and exists in a cell-associated form (about 460 kDa) and two medium-associated forms (about 440 and 400 kDa, respectively). The cell-associated form comprises a 200-, a 155- and a 140-kDa subunit, all normally held together by disulflde bonds. The cell-associated form is subjected to extracellular processing to produce the two medium-associated forms, wherein, in the 440-kDa form, the 200-kDa subunit has been processed to a 165-kDa subunit and, in the 400-kDa form, the 155-kDa subunit has been processed to a 105-KDa subunit. The BM165 epitope is located on the 165-kDa subunit. Kalinin has a rotary-shadow image revealing an asymmetric rod 107-nm long having two globules at a first end and a single globule at an opposing end. A method is also disclosed for improving adhesion of transplanted keratinocytes to an underlying substrate, such as the human dermis, by optimizing production of kalinin from cultured keratinocytes, or by providing an exogenous source of kalinin between the keratinocytes and substrate.