The activated keratinocyte: up regulation of cell adhesion and migration during wound healing.

Keratinocytes play different roles in normal and wounded skin. In normal skin, these cells are specialized for differentiation. In wounded skin, they are specialized for migration. This article discusses the idea that migratory-competent keratinocytes are "activated." Changes that characterize the activation process include increased cell attachment, spreading, focal adhesion formation, and migration. In part, these changes can be explained by enhanced expression of alpha 5 integrin subunits and reorganization of beta 1 integrin subunits.