Anti-GPRC5D monoclonal antibody, clone EML345

Oral ingestion of collagen peptides (CP) has long been suggested to exert beneficial effects on the skin, but the molecular events induced by CP on the skin remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of oral CP administration on gene expression in hairless mouse skin and of prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp), a collagen-derived dipeptide, on gene expression in a coculture of mouse skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Using microarray analysis, we found that oral administration of CP to hairless mice for 6 weeks induced increased expression of Krtap and Krt genes in the skin. Annotation analysis using DAVID revealed that a group of the up-regulated genes, Gprc5d, Sprr2a1, Krt27 and Krtap16-7, is associated with the development of the epidermis and the hair cycle. In addition, the presence of Pro-Hyp (200 mu M) induced an increase in the expression of Krtap16-7, Krtap15, Krtap14 and Krtap8-2 in keratinocytes in coculture, partially resembling the in vivo result. The Pro-Hyp-induced up-regulation of these genes was not observed when keratinocytes were cultured without fibroblasts, suggesting that the presence of fibroblasts is essential for the effects of Pro-Hyp. Our study presents new insights into the effects of CP on the skin, which might link to the hair cycle. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel

Recently a novel subfamily of closely related orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) was identified, called GPRC5A, GPRC5B, GPRC5C and GPRC5D. Based on sequence homology, these receptors were classified as family C GPCRs, which include metabotropic GABA(B) receptors, metabotropic glutamate receptors, the calcium sensing receptor and a number of pheromone receptors. GPRC5 receptors share approximately 30-40% sequence homology to each other and 25% homology to the other family C members. It has been shown human GPRC5B mRNA is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system. In order to further characterise this receptor, we investigated both the mRNA and protein expression profiles in rodent tissues. Western blot analysis, using affinity-purified antisera specific to GPRC5B, identified a protein migrating at approximately 68 kDa, close to the predicted molecular weight for GPRC5B. Immunocytochemical analysis of GPRC5B-transfected cells revealed a cell surface localisation. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of GPRC5B in rat brain and spinal cord demonstrated receptor expression in many areas, with highest levels of immunoreactivity in the neocortex, all subfields of the hippocampus, the granule cell layer of the cerebellum and throughout the spinal cord. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.