Keratinocyte Migration and Invasion

Edel O'Toole MB. PhD, FRCPI

Research field

Edel O'Toole's research interests include the role of keratins in cell signaling, mechanisms involved in keratinocyte migration and skin cancer invasion, and genetics of disorders of keratinisation and atopic eczema. Her clinical interests are paediatric dermatology and cutaneous genetic diseases involving collaborative genetics research on harlequin ichthyosis and atopic eczema in the local Bangladeshi population.

Group projects include:

1 Examining the effect of pachyonychia congenita mutations in keratins 6a and 16 on keratinocyte migration and signaling

2 Investigation of the role of keratin 6a in skin cancer invasion and apoptosis

3 The role of Axl, a receptor tyrosine kinase, in skin cancer invasion

4 The role of type VII collagen in skin cancer invasion and apoptosis

Group funding is from the Association for International Cancer Research, Debra Ireland and the Barts and the London Research Advisory Board.

Key research papers

1 Ong C, O'Toole EA, Ghali L, Malone M, Smith VV, Callard R, Harper JI. LEKTI demonstrable by immunohistochemistry of the skin: a potential diagnostic skin test for Netherton syndrome. Br J Dermatol. 2004 ;151(6):1253-7.

2 Chen M, O'Toole EA, Muellenhoff M, Medina E, Kasahara N, Woodley DT. Development and characterization of a recombinant truncated type VII collagen "minigene". Implication for gene therapy of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. J Biol Chem. 2000 Aug 11;275(32):24429-35.

3 O'Toole EA, Marinkovich MP, Peavey CL, Amieva MR, Furthmayr H, Mustoe TA, Woodley DT. Hypoxia increases human keratinocyte motility on connective tissue. J.Clin Invest. 1997 Dec 1;100(11):2881-91.