A mechano-resistance mechanism in skin adapts to terrestrial locomotion

Abstract

The transition from water to land required animals to evolve specialized paw skin to support body weight and enable locomotion. We identify an evolutionarily emerged mechanism in skin epithelial cells that adapts to this mechanical demand. We show that the Slurp1 gene, conserved across tetrapods, is specifically expressed in palmoplantar skin. In humans, mutations in SLURP1 cause palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK), a condition marked by pathologically thickened skin epidermis on the soles and palms. Remarkably, reducing mechanical pressure on Slurp1 knockout paw skin fully rescues the PPK phenotype. Mechanistically, SLURP1 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, where it binds the calcium pump SERCA2b. By preserving SERCA2b activity under mechanical pressure, SLURP1 maintains low cytoplasmic calcium levels and inhibits pressure-induced activation of the pPERK-NRF2 signaling-a pathway that can be genetically targeted to reverse PPK. These findings reveal an ER-based mechano-resistance mechanism that enhances cellular defense against prolonged mechanical pressure.

Keywords: SERCA2b; SLURP1; calcium; endoplasmic reticulum; mechanical pressure; palmoplantar keratoderma.