title: Characterization of Spink6 in mouse skin: the conserved inhibitor of kallikrein-related peptidases is reduced by barrier injury.
abstract: The proteolytic regulation of the desquamation process by kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) is crucial for epidermal barrier function, and elevated KLK levels have been reported in atopic dermatitis. KLKs are controlled by specific inhibitors of the serine protease inhibitor of Kazal-type (Spink) family. Recently, SPINK6 was shown to be present in human stratum corneum. In order to investigate its role in epidermal barrier function, we studied mouse Spink6. Sequence alignment revealed that the Kazal domain of Spink6 is highly conserved in animals. Recombinant Spink6 efficiently inhibited mouse Klk5 and human KLK2, KLK4, KLK5, KLK6, KLK7, KLK12, KLK13, and KLK14, whereas human KLK1 and KLK8 were not inhibited. Spink6 was expressed in mouse epidermis mainly in the stratum granulosum, and the inner root sheath of hair follicles. Stimulation with flagellin, EGF, and IL-1β did not alter Spink6 expression, whereas stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)/IFNγ and all-trans retinoic acid resulted in a significant downregulation of Spink6 expression in cultured primary mouse keratinocytes. Mechanically and metabolically induced skin barrier dysfunction resulted both in a downregulation of Spink6 expression. Our study indicates that Spink6 is a potent inhibitor of KLKs and involved in skin barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kantyka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sperrhacke
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dimitrieva
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koblyakova
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Graumann
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Hansjörg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baurecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens-Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Ehrhardt
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Proksch
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: umeyerhoffert@dermatology.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meyer-Hoffert
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D000074162:Serine Peptidase Inhibitors, Kazal Type; D012995:Solubility; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C553928:SPINK6 protein, human; D000074162:Serine Peptidase Inhibitors, Kazal Type; C000588922:Spink6 protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014212:Tretinoin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007610:Kallikreins