title: Caspase-14 protects against epidermal UVB photodamage and water loss.
abstract: Caspase-14 belongs to a conserved family of aspartate-specific proteinases. Its expression is restricted almost exclusively to the suprabasal layers of the epidermis and the hair follicles. Moreover, the proteolytic activation of caspase-14 is associated with stratum corneum formation, implicating caspase-14 in terminal keratinocyte differentiation and cornification. Here, we show that the skin of caspase-14-deficient mice was shiny and lichenified, indicating an altered stratum-corneum composition. Caspase-14-deficient epidermis contained significantly more alveolar keratohyalin F-granules, the profilaggrin stores. Accordingly, caspase-14-deficient epidermis is characterized by an altered profilaggrin processing pattern and we show that recombinant caspase-14 can directly cleave profilaggrin in vitro. Caspase-14-deficient epidermis is characterized by reduced skin-hydration levels and increased water loss. In view of the important role of filaggrin in the structure and moisturization of the skin, the knockout phenotype could be explained by an aberrant processing of filaggrin. Importantly, the skin of caspase-14-deficient mice was highly sensitive to the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers after UVB irradiation, leading to increased levels of UVB-induced apoptosis. Removal of the stratum corneum indicate that caspase-14 controls the UVB scavenging capacity of the stratum corneum.
authors.affiliation: Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, Technologie Park 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geertrui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Denecker
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoste
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Tino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hochepied
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ovaere
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lippens
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van den Broecke
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: D'Herde
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hachem
authors.forename: Gaetan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borgonie
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Presland
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schoonjans
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Libert
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandekerckhove
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gevaert
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandenabeele
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Declercq
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003681:Dehydration / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers; C506449:Casp14 protein, mouse; D020169:Caspases