Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
J Invest Dermatol. 2011 Feb;131(2):295-301. doi: 10.1038/jid.2010.318. Epub 2010 Nov 18.
The Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic suppressors of gene expression that function through modification of histones to change chromatin structure and modulate gene expression and cell behavior. Recent studies show that PcG proteins are expressed in epidermis, that their levels change during differentiation and in disease states, and that PcG expression is regulated by agents that influence cell proliferation and survival. The results indicate that PcG proteins regulate keratinocyte cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, senescence, and differentiation. These proteins are expressed in progenitor cells, in the basal layer, and in suprabasal keratinocytes, and the level, timing, and distribution of expression suggest that the PcG proteins have a central role in maintaining the balance between cell survival and death in multiple epidermal compartments. Additional studies indicate an important role in skin cancer progression.
多梳蛋白（PcG）是通过组蛋白修饰来改变染色质结构并调节基因表达和细胞行为的表观遗传抑制因子。最近的研究表明，PcG 蛋白在表皮中表达，其水平在分化和疾病状态下发生变化，并且 PcG 表达受影响细胞增殖和存活的因子调节。结果表明，PcG 蛋白调节角质形成细胞细胞周期进程、细胞凋亡、衰老和分化。这些蛋白在祖细胞、基底层和超基底层角质形成细胞中表达，表达的水平、时间和分布表明，PcG 蛋白在维持多个表皮隔室中细胞存活和死亡之间的平衡方面发挥着核心作用。进一步的研究表明其在皮肤癌进展中具有重要作用。
