Indeterminate alteration of TRPM8 and p21/Cip1 levels in normal human keratinocytes by incubating with medium including substances released by squamous carcinoma cells

Abstract

TRPM8, sensor of cold temperatures, regulates epidermal cell proliferation through CDK inhibitor p21/Cip1 and downregulation of TRPM8 causes p21/Cip1 decrease, associated with carcinogenesis. Given that lipids-activated nuclear receptor PPAR gamma negatively regulates the expression of TRPM8 in normal epidermal cells and that carcinoma cells generally secrete exosomes including various lipids, we examined whether TRPM8 and p21/Cip1 expressions in normal human keratinocytes are altered by incubating with medium including substances secreted by squamous carcinoma cells. TRPM8 and p21/Cip1 expressions in normal human keratinocytes HaCaT cells are altered by incubating with medium including substances secreted by squamous carcinoma SAS cells (“SAS medium”), however, the alteration of TRPM8 and p21/Cip1 expressions is indeterminate. In some case, “SAS medium” increased p21/Cip1 in TRPM8-independent manner whereas it decreased p21/Cip1 through both of TRPM8-dependent and independent pathway in other case. We also obtained the data showing that “SAS medium”-induced TRPM8 increase did not result in p21/Cip1 increase, probably from offset by TRPM8-independent downregulation of p21/Cip1. In all cases PPAR gamma level was not altered and “SAS medium” decreased TRPM8 level of HaCaT cells even when PPAR gamma was knocked down, indicating PPAR gamma-independent regulation of TRPM8 by “SAS medium”. These results suggest that squamous carcinoma cells secrete various substances which increase and decrease p21/Cip1 level in nearby normal epithelial cells. Ratio of amounts of substances secreted by squamous carcinoma cells may vary depending on the cell condition and increasing ratio of substances which downregulates p21/Cip1 expression results in increased risk of carcinogenesis.