Characterization of an 80-kD membrane glycoprotein (gp80) of human keratinocytes: a marker for commitment to terminal differentiation in vivo and in vitro.

We have characterized an 80-kD cell-surface glycoprotein (gp80) identified by monoclonal antibody BT 15, the expression of which is closely associated with a commitment to terminal squamous or follicular differentiation of keratinocytes in normal adult and fetal human epidermis. Maximum expression was found in the suprabasal layers, but basal cells located at the epidermal sulci were also clearly positive, in contrast to the virtually negative basal cells at the epidermal ridges. This protein was also present in benign hyperproliferative disorders of the epidermis (i.e., common warts, keratoacanthoma, psoriasis, and seborrhoic keratoses) with monoclonal antibody BT 15 preferentially staining suprabasal cells and some basal cells at the epidermal sulci. Gp80 was completely lacking in most basal cell carcinomas; the only exceptions were two cases of partially cornifying tumors that were strongly stained around keratotic pearls. In squamous cell carcinomas, gp80 was expressed in keratinized areas of the tumors. In organotypic keratinocyte cultures that resemble the in vivo situation, gp80 was strongly expressed in the suprabasal layers. However, unlike known markers for terminal differentiation, gp80 was weakly expressed by basal cells. Synthesis rates of gp80 were high in keratinocyte cell suspensions freshly prepared from skin, and decreased in primary cultures and first and second subcultures (ratio 10:4:2:1). Elevated concentrations of the Ca++ that increased stratification of cultured keratinocytes resulted in a two- to threefold increase of gp80 synthesis. GP80 was not synthesized at detectable levels by the immortal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT; however, it was expressed in HaCaT cultures treated with mitomycin C, indicating an association with cessation of growth. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that gp80 is synthesized from a 55-kD precursor molecule, the maturation of which was prevented by treating cells with tunicamycin. Glycosidase digestion of BT 15 immunoprecipitates from untreated cells indicated that the predominant post-translational modification of the protein is N-linked glycosylation. Our data indicate that gp80 is a glycoprotein that is expressed by growth-arrested human keratinocytes or as part of the terminal differentiation program.