title: Identification of lympho-epithelial Kazal-type inhibitor 2 in human skin as a kallikrein-related peptidase 5-specific protease inhibitor.
abstract: Kallikreins-related peptidases (KLKs) are serine proteases and have been implicated in the desquamation process of the skin. Their activity is tightly controlled by epidermal protease inhibitors like the lympho-epithelial Kazal-type inhibitor (LEKTI). Defects of the LEKTI-encoding gene serine protease inhibitor Kazal type (Spink)5 lead to the absence of LEKTI and result in the genodermatose Netherton syndrome, which mimics the common skin disease atopic dermatitis. Since many KLKs are expressed in human skin with KLK5 being considered as one of the most important KLKs in skin desquamation, we proposed that more inhibitors are present in human skin. Herein, we purified from human stratum corneum by HPLC techniques a new KLK5-inhibiting peptide encoded by a member of the Spink family, designated as Spink9 located on chromosome 5p33.1. This peptide is highly homologous to LEKTI and was termed LEKTI-2. Recombinant LEKTI-2 inhibited KLK5 but not KLK7, 14 or other serine proteases tested including trypsin, plasmin and thrombin. Spink9 mRNA expression was detected in human skin samples and in cultured keratinocytes. LEKTI-2 immune-expression was focally localized at the stratum granulosum and stratum corneum at palmar and plantar sites in close localization to KLK5. At sites of plantar hyperkeratosis, LEKTI-2 expression was increased. We suggest that LEKTI-2 contributes to the regulation of the desquamation process in human skin by specifically inhibiting KLK5.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meyer-Hoffert
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jens-Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000074162:Serine Peptidase Inhibitors, Kazal Type; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012873:Skin Diseases, Genetic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007610:Kallikreins; D010455:Peptides; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000074162:Serine Peptidase Inhibitors, Kazal Type; C542011:SPINK9 protein, human; C400147:KLK5 protein, human