Human tissue kallikrein expression in the stratum corneum and serum of atopic dermatitis patients
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
Authors: Komatsu, Nahoko; Saijoh, Kiyofumi; Kuk, Cynthia; Liu, Amber C.; Khan, Saba; Shirasaki, Fumiaki; Takehara, Kazuhiko; Diamandis, Eleftherios P.
Abstract
Human tissue kallikreins are a family of 15 trypsin- or chymotrypsin-like secreted serine proteases (KLK1-KLK15). Many KLKs have been identified in normal stratum corneum (SC) and sweat, and are candidate desquamation-related proteases. We report quantification by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of KLK5, KLK6, KLK7, KLK8, KLK10, KLK11, KLK13 and KLK14 in the SC and serum of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients by ELISA, and examine their variation with clinical phenotype, correlation with blood levels of eosinophils, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and immunoglobulin E. The overall SC serine protease activities were also measured. In the SC of AD, all KLKs, except KLK11, were significantly elevated. The elevation of chymotrypsin-like KLK7 was predominant, compared with trypsin-like KLKs. The SC overall plasmin- and furin-like activities were significantly elevated, while trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like activities did not differ significantly. In the serum of AD patients, KLK8 was significantly elevated and KLK5 and KLK11 were significantly decreased. However, their serum levels were not modified by corticosteroid topical agents. The alterations of KLK levels in the SC of AD were more pronounced than those in the serum. KLK7 in the serum was significantly correlated with eosinophil counts in the blood of AD patients, while KLK5, KLK8 and KLK11 were significantly correlated with LDH in the serum. In conclusion, we report abnormal kallikrein levels in the SC and the serum of AD patients. KLKs might be involved in skin manifestation and/or focal/systemic inflammatory reactions in AD. Our data may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of AD.
Toll-like receptor signaling induces the expression of lympho-epithelial Kazal-type inhibitor in epidermal keratinocytes
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Authors: Sugimoto, Saeko; Morizane, Shin; Nomura, Hayato; Kobashi, Mina; Sugihara, Satoru; Iwatsuki, Keiji
Abstract
Background: Lympho-epithelial Kazal-type inhibitor (LEKTI) tightly controls the activities of serine proteases such as kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) 5 and KLK7 in the epidermis. LEKTI is known to be an essential molecule for the epidermal skin barrier, as demonstrated by SPINK5 nonsense mutation, which results in Netherton syndrome. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns or damage-associated molecular patterns and produce inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial peptides. However, the effect of TLR signaling on the expression of LEKTI is not clear. Objective: To investigate whether TLR signaling can affect expression of LEKTI in epidermal keratinocytes. Methods: We stimulated a panel of TLR ligands and investigated the expression of LEKTI in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). We further measured trypsin or chymotrypsin-like serine protease activity in NHEK cultured media under stimulation with TLR3 ligand, poly (I:C). Immunostaining for LEKTI was performed using skin samples from skin infectious diseases. Results: TLR1/2, 3, 5, and 2/6 ligands induced the expression of LEKTI in NHEKs. The trypsin or chymotrypsin-like serine protease activity in NHEKs was up-regulated with the stimulation of poly (I:C). The gene expressions of KLK6, KLK10, KLK11, and KLK13 were also increased by poly (I:C). An immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the expression of LEKTI was up-regulated in the lesions of varicella, pyoderma, and rosacea. Conclusions: TLR signaling induces the expression of LEKTI in epidermal keratinocytes, which might contribute to the control of aberrant serine protease activities in inflammatory skin diseases. (C) 2018 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.