A comparison between the epidermal regenerative responses provoked by a skin irritant and a tumor promoter using anti-BrdUrd/DNA flow cytometry.

The proliferative responses induced in hairless mouse epidermis after application of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and the skin irritant cantharidin were investigated. Doses known to give the same degree of hyperplasia were chosen. Mice were pulse-labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) 30 min prior to or 24 h after a single application of either cantharidin or TPA, and thereafter killed at various time intervals. The basal cells were isolated from epidermis, fixed in 70% ethanol and prepared for bivariate BrdUrd/DNA flow cytometric analysis. Cells pulse-labeled in S phase 30 min prior to treatment with cantharidin or TPA were slightly delayed in their progression through S phase and temporarily blocked in G2 phase. However, they were still able to re-enter S phase 18 h later, indicating a shortening of the G1 phase. Cells pulse-labeled 24 h after treatment had a considerably reduced cell cycle time, i.e. reduced G1 transit time. Hence, the wave of cells entering S phase from 16 h after injury could be explained by an immediate reduction in G1 transit time, without assuming recruitment of temporarily resting G0/G1 cells. Although cantharidin caused the longest initial delay in cell cycle progression, the subsequent proliferative response was less pronounced than that provoked by TPA. Rapid proliferation may allow for clonal expansion of initiated cells. The higher ability of TPA to induce rapid proliferation, apparently without causing any severe initial cell damage, may thus be related to its higher tumor promoting ability.