Characterization of immortalized human epidermolysis bullosa simplex (KRT5) cell lines: trimethylamine N-oxide protects the keratin cytoskeleton against disruptive stress condition.

BACKGROUND

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is an autosomal inherited mechano-bullous disease, characterized by intraepidermal blistering and skin fragility caused by mutations in the keratin (KRT) 5 or 14 genes. Despite a vast knowledge about the intermediate filament pathology in this disease, the progress in therapy has been slow. Animal models and well-characterized continuous cell culture models of EBS are needed prior to clinical testing.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to generate immortalized cell lines as an in vitro model for the study of EBS and test a chemical chaperone, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), as a putative novel therapy.

METHODS

We generated four immortalized cell lines, two each from an EBS patient with a KRT5-mutation (V186L) and a healthy control, using human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E6E7 as transducer. Cell lines were established in serum-free and serum-containing medium and assessed for growth characteristics, keratin expression profiles, ability to differentiate in organotypic cultures, and response to heat stress with and without the presence of TMAO.

RESULTS

All cell lines have been expanded >160 population doublings and their cellular characteristics are similar. However, the formation of cytoplasmic keratin filament aggregates in response to heat-shock treatment differed between EBS and normal cell lines. Notably, serum-free established EBS-cell line was most vulnerable to heat shock but both cell lines exhibited significant reduction in the number of keratin aggregates containing cells by TMAO.

CONCLUSION

The immortalized cell lines represent a suitable model for studying novel therapies for EBS. TMAO is a promising new agent for future development as a novel EBS therapy.