[Gene expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and its MAPKKs in skin at different developmental stages and its possible biological significance].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the gene expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and its upstream signaling molecule (mkk3 and mkk6) in fetal skin at different developmental stages and postnatal skin and its potential biological significance.

METHODS

The fetal skin biopsies were obtained from human embryo of spontaneous abortion at gestational ages from 13 to 32 weeks and postnatal skin specimens were collected from patients (4-16 years) undergoing plastic surgery. After the morphological characteristics of skins at different developmental stages were detected with pathological methods, the gene expressions of p38MAPK, mkk3 and mkk6 in skins were examined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

The gene expressions of p38MAPK, mkk3 and mkk6 could all be detected in fetal and postnatal skins. In fetal skins, these 3 genes were strongly expressed. Along with fetal growth and development, the gene expressions of p38MAPK and its upstream signaling molecules were faded gradually. In postnatal skin, the mRNA contents of these 3 genes were significantly decreased in comparison with those in fetal skin (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

p38 MAPK mediated signal pathways might be involved in the skin development at embryonic stage and in the determination of cutaneous structure and function, and also in wound healing at postnatal stage. The relative increment of these gene transcription in younger fetal skin might be one of the reasons why cutaneous cells proliferate rapidly and the wounds heal without scar.