Hemidesmosomes and Notch signaling regulate epidermal differentiation via delamination (opens in new tab)

ABSTRACTIntegrins mediate adhesion of basal keratinocytes to the underlying basement membrane. While high expression of integrins has been correlated with stemness, there is limited direct evidence that integrins mediate keratinocyte retention within the basal layer. Here, we generate mosaic, epidermal-specific loss of integrin-β4 (encoded by Itgb4) or its ligand, laminin-α3β3γ2 (Lama3), in mouse using an in utero lentiviral-mediated approach. Although mutations in these genes cause postnatal...