Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Regulates Epidermal Barrier Response and Desmosomal Structure

Ca2+ fluxes direct keratinocyte differentiation, cell-to-cell adhesion, migration, and epidermal barrier homeostasis. We previously showed that intracellular Ca2+ stores constitute a major portion of the calcium gradient especially in the stratum granulosum. Loss of the calcium gradient triggers epidermal barrier homeostatic responses. In this report, using unfixed ex vivo epidermis and human epidermal equivalents we show that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ is released in response to barrier perturbation, and that this release constitutes the major shift in epidermal Ca2+ seen after barrier perturbation. We find that ER Ca2+ release correlates with a transient increase in extracellular Ca2+. Lastly, we show that ER calcium release resulting from barrier perturbation triggers transient desmosomal remodeling, seen as an increase in extracellular space and a loss of the desmosomal intercellular midline. Topical application of thapsigargin, which inhibits the ER Ca2+ ATPase activity without compromising barrier integrity, also leads to desmosomal remodeling and loss of the midline structure. These experiments establish the ER Ca2+ store as a master regulator of the Ca2+ gradient response to epidermal barrier perturbation, and suggest that ER Ca2+ homeostasis also modulates normal desmosomal reorganization, both at rest and after acute barrier perturbation.