The role of the tetraspanin CD151 in primary keratinocyte and fibroblast functions: implications for wound healing

Previous studies showed that CD151-null mice have a skin wound healing deficit. To gain an understanding of the role of CD151 in re-epithelialisation and dermal contraction, keratinocyte and fibroblast functions were assayed. Primary CD151-null keratinocytes displayed defective migration on Matrigel (a basement membrane equivalent) and laminin-332, the primary adhesion component of basement membranes, but not on collagen-I. Adhesion, spreading and proliferation were also deficient on laminin-332, but not collagen-I. The data suggest that loss of CD151 impairs the function of its primary interaction partners, integrin alpha3beta1- and/or alpha6beta4 which bind to laminin-332. Skin fibroblasts also produce CD151 mRNA. CD151-null fibroblasts migrated significantly faster on collagen I than wild type fibroblasts, confirming that they possess functional collagen receptors. However, no significant decrease in the ability of CD151-null fibroblasts to cause contraction in floating collagen gel assays in response to transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) or platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) was observed, nor was there an effect on fibroblast adhesion or proliferation on collagen-I. The data implicate CD151 as a facilitator of laminin-332-mediated keratinocyte functions that impact on the re-epithelialisation process intrinsic to wound healing and further suggest a potential novel role for CD151 in fibroblast migration.