The Focal Adhesion Protein PINCH-1 Associates With EPLIN at Integrin Adhesion Sites

The study demonstrated that the ablation of the PINCH-1 gene in the epidermis of mice led to epidermal detachment, hyperthickening, and progressive hair loss. PINCH-1 deficient keratinocytes exhibited severe adhesion, spreading, and migration defects, more pronounced than those in ILK-deficient keratinocytes, indicating PINCH-1's ILK-independent functions. The research identified EPLIN as a novel PINCH-1 associated protein, which localized to integrin adhesion sites in a PINCH-1-dependent manner. Depletion of EPLIN significantly impaired keratinocyte spreading and migration on collagen and fibronectin. The findings suggested that PINCH-1 regulated integrin-mediated adhesion of keratinocytes through interactions with both ILK and EPLIN.