Products and methods for improving keratinocyte adhesion to the dermis

Abstract

The isolated proteins kalinin and k-laminin are disclosed to provide adhesion between epidermal keratinocytes and the underlying dermis. Purified kalinin localizes to the anchoring filaments of basement membranes of 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 410-495 kDa and exists in a cell-associated form (about 495 kDa) and two medium-associated forms (about 460 and 410 kDa, respectively). The BM165 epitope is located on the 165-kDa and 200 kDa subunits. 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. The k-laminin adhesion molecule is an isolated heterotrimeric laminin variant that has a molecular weight of about 650 kDa and separates on western blots into first and second fragments that are similar to the B1 and B2 fragments of laminin. K-laminin also includes a third fragment of 190 kDa that is not immunoreactive with monoclonal antibodies 1F5, 11D5 and 4C7, but is immunoreactive with a monoclonal antibody BM165. Kalinin and k-laminin are preferably covalently associated. 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.