Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: Epidermal Stem Cells Control Periderm Injury Repair via Matrix-Driven Specialization of Intercellular Junctions
doi: 10.1101/2025.07.02.662640
Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A ) Representative immunofluorescence images of P63, F-actin, and DAPI in both layers of the bilayer normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) cell culture system. DAPI image is z-depth color-coded. ( B ) Quantification of P63 intensity in Basal and Suprabasal cells (two-tailed unpaired t-test, p<0.0001, n=15 fields of view (FOV) containing 5-20 cells per FOV; 1 independent experiment). ( C ) Schematic of the two different gel constructs containing 100% collagen (Collagen) and 100% collagen gel coated with laminin (Col (LM-coated)). ( D ) Representative immunofluorescence z-stack cross sections of NHEKs cultured on each of the two gel systems. Cells were stained with F-actin and DAPI. ( E ) Representative immunofluorescence images of β-Catenin (CTNNB1) in culture on each gel type. Images are shown of the Suprabasal, Interlayer (between the Suprabasal and Basal), and the Basal cells. Immunofluorescence intensity is displayed using a 16-color scale. ( F ) Quantification of CTNNB1 intensity at Suprabasal junctions, Interlayer (between the Suprabasal and Basal), and Basal junctions in NHEKs cultured on the two gel systems. For each graph, intensity was normalized to the Collagen Gel Group (two-tailed unpaired t test (Suprabasal and Basal) and two-tailed Mann-Whitney test (Interlayer), p = 0.0046 (Suprabasal), 0.2213 (Interlayer), and p<0.0001 (Basal), n = 41-53 cells; 1 independent experiment). ( G ) Representative immunofluorescence images of Desmoplakin (DSP) in culture on each gel type. Images are shown of the Suprabasal, Interlayer (between the Suprabasal and Basal), and the Basal cells. Immunofluorescence intensity is represented as 16 colors. ( H ) Quantification of Desmoplakin intensity at Suprabasal junctions, Interlayer (between the Suprabasal and Basal), and Basal junctions in NHEKs cultured on the two gel systems. For each graph, intensity was normalized to the Collagen Gel Group (two-tailed unpaired t test (Suprabasal and Interlayer) and two-tailed Mann-Whitney test (Basal), p = 0.0042 (Suprabasal) and p<0.0001 (Interlayer and Basal), n = 40-50 cells; 1 independent experiment).
Article Snippet: Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were purchased from Promo Cell (C-12001) from a 4-year-old Caucasian male donor (Lot #: 494Z030.1).
Techniques: Immunofluorescence, Cell Culture, Two Tailed Test, Construct, Staining, MANN-WHITNEY