Abstract: Objective To study the regulation of involucrin,Toll like receptors(TLR)-2 and-4 expressions in keratinocytes by anti-keratin 16 antibody.Methods Keratinocytes were isolated from the foreskins of children,and subjected to primary culture.The cultured keratinocytes were incubated with antikeratin 16 antibody,or with isotype antibody as control,for various durations.Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of TLR2,TLR4 and involucrin in keratinocytes.Results After the co-culture of keratinocytes with anti-keratin 16 antibody,TLR2 mRNA expression was increased by 1.73,1.60 and 2.52 folds at 6 h,24 h and 36 h respectively,TLR4 mRNA expression by 3.62,2.21 folds at 12 h and 36 h respectively,and involucrin mRNA expression by 2.33,2.0 folds at 12 h and 36 h respectively.Conclusion Anti-keratin 16 antibody may be a pivotal link for the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the differentiation of keratinocytes.

Key words: Keratinocytes, Toll-like receptor 2, Toll-like receptor 4, anti-keratin 16 antibodies, Involucrin