Related Experiment Videos
Stratum corneum tryptic enzyme in normal epidermis: a missing link in the desquamation process?
I E Ekholm1, M Brattsand, T Egelrud
1Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Dermatology and Venereology, Umeå University, Sweden. elisabeth.ekholm@dermven.umu.se
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|January 5, 2000
Summary
Stratum corneum tryptic enzyme (SCTE) plays a role in skin desquamation, acting alongside or activating stratum corneum chymotryptic enzyme (SCCE). Both enzymes, found in the stratum corneum, exhibit activity across a pH range, suggesting regulatory mechanisms for skin shedding.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Dermatology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Stratum corneum chymotryptic enzyme (SCCE) is implicated in skin desquamation.
- Other proteases, particularly stratum corneum tryptic enzyme (SCTE), may also be involved.
- SCTE has been purified, its cDNA cloned, and shown to be skin-specific.
Purpose of the Study:
- To produce and characterize antibodies specific for SCTE.
- To investigate the presence and activity of SCTE in normal human epidermis using biochemical, immunochemical, and immunohistochemical methods.
Main Methods:
- Production and purification of antibodies against bacterial recombinant SCTE.
- Affinity chromatography for antibody purification.
- Biochemical, immunochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses of SCTE in human epidermis.
Main Results:
- Two types of SCTE-specific antibodies were generated: one for the precursor and one for the active form.
- Immunohistochemistry revealed SCTE precursor expression in cornifying epithelia, similar to SCCE.
- Both SCTE and SCCE precursors and active forms were detected in superficial stratum corneum extracts.
- Both enzymes demonstrated maximal activity at pH 8 but retained considerable activity at pH 5.5.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a role for SCTE in desquamation.
- SCTE may function in concert with SCCE or as an activator of SCCE.
- The presence of both enzymes and their activity across a pH range suggest complex regulation of skin desquamation.