Collagen XVII participates in keratinocyte adhesion to collagen IV, and in p38-MAPK-dependent migration and cell signaling

Collagen XVII (COL17), a transmembrane collagen, is thought to be involved in keratinocyte adhesion and possibly migration, as COL17 defects disrupt keratinocyte-basal lamina adhesion and underlie the disease non-Herlitz junctional epidermolysis bullosa (n-HJEB). COL17 is involved in keratinocyte adhesion and migration. Using siRNA to knockdown COL17 expression in HaCaT cells, we assessed cell characteristics including adhesion, migration and signaling. Control and siRNA transfected keratinocytes showed no difference in adhesion on plastic dishes after incubation for 8 hours in serum-free keratinocyte-growth medium, however when grown on collagen IV alone or BD matrigel (containing collagen IV and laminin isoforms) COL17 deficient cells showed significantly reduced adhesion compared to controls (