Gene expression profile of primary epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) stimulated with lawsone

The study aimed to interrogate whether the 1,4-naphtoquinone derivative lawsone activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) downstream transcriptional program in keratinocytes and is capable of modulating skin homeostasis. The study has been performed on human primary epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs), which represent the first line of defense against exogenous molecules. HEK cells were treated with the vehicle control DMSO (control), stimulated with lawsone or with the TLR2 ligand Pam2CSK4. Transcriptional profiles of HEK cells were studied to investigate the regulation of AhR -related genes, Nrf2-related genes and epidermal differentiation and keratin genes. We demonstrated that lawsone was sensed by keratinocytes and activated AhR. In particular, lawsone efficiently activated the transcriptional program of AhR and promoted keratinocyte differentiation. Three-condition experiment: HEK cells treated with the vehicle control DMSO (control) vs. HEK cells stimulated with lawsone (10 µM) (Law). As negative control we used HEK cells stimulated with the TLR2 ligand Pam2CSK4 (300 ng/mL) (TLR2). One biological replicate. control= ctrl; lawsone= Law; Pam2CSK4=TLR2.