Sodium dodecyl sulfate induces plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 expression in epidermal keratinocytes in vivo and in vitro.

The detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate is a well-known inducer of irritant contact dermatitis. In this study we show that sodium dodecyl sulfate induces the serine proteinase inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2, in epidermal keratinocytes. The enhancement in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 mRNA and antigen is observed both when sodium dodecyl sulfate is applied topically to normal human skin as well as when it is added to the growth medium of cultured human keratinocytes. In vitro, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 mRNA is increased within 4-8 h after addition of the detergent, and the increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 antigen occurs slightly later. The enhancing effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 is not related to nonspecific cell lysis nor is it secondary to induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Similarities between our in vitro and in vivo findings lead us to hypothesize that sodium dodecyl sulfate may exert its effect on epidermal plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 via interaction with the keratinocyte.