Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (8): 1196-1200.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.3038

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Expression and localization of diacylglycerol kinase zeta and protein kinase C beta II in mouse back skin with different coat colors

Li Jing, Xie Jianshan, Cui Huilin, Cao Ximei, Yang Yanping, Li Hairong   

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
  • Received:2020-03-13 Revised:2020-03-18 Accepted:2020-04-15 Online:2021-03-18 Published:2020-12-11
  • Contact: Li Hairong, MD, Associate professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
  • About author:Li Jing, Master candidate, Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Shanxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation (General Project), No. 201901D111185; Shanxi Medical University School-level Doctoral Fund, No. 03201516

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the skin and hair pigmentation mechanism, diacylglycerol kinase ζ (DGKζ) has not been reported to participate in pigmentation. 
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and localization of DGKζ and protein kinase C βII (PKCβII) in the mouse back skin with different coat colors and their correlation with the formation of coat color. 
METHODS: The back skin of 2-month-old mice with different coat colors (white, gray, and black, 6 mice for each color) was taken to detect DGKζ and PKCβII mRNAs by real-time PCR, DGKζ, PKCβII and p-PKCβII proteins by western blot, and DGKζ and p-PKCβII expression by immunohistochemistry. The study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Animal Experimental Center of Shanxi Medical University.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: DGKζ and PKCβII mRNAs were both expressed in the back skin of mice with three kinds of coat colors, with its relative expression amount being: gray group > white group; black group > white group (P < 0.05). Both DGKζ and PKCβII proteins were expressed in the back skin of mice with different hair coat colors. The ratio of p-PKCβII to PKCβII showed that the change of PKCβII activity had the same tendency with DGKζ expression: gray group > white group; black group > white group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry staining showed that DGKζ and p-PKCβII were positively expressed in the outer root sheath of hair follicle, hair matrix cells and melanocytes in the hair matrix in the back skin of gray and black mice, while were negative in the hair follicles of white mice. According to the expression and localization of DGKζ, PKCβII in white, gray and black mouse back skin, we can speculate that DGKζ and PKCβII may participate in the formation of the coat color.

Key words: skin, hair follicle, diacylglycerol kinase ζ, protein kinase C βII, immunohistochemistry, melanocyte, mouse, experiment

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