Aberrant human tissue kallikrein levels in the stratum corneum and serum of patients with psoriasis: dependence on phenotype, severity and therapy

Background Human tissue kallikreins (KLKs) are a family of 15 trypsin-like or chymotrypsin-like secreted serine proteases (KLK1-KLK15). Multiple KLKs have been quantitatively identified in normal stratum corneum (SC) and sweat as candidate desquamation-related proteases. Objectives To quantify KLK5, KLK6, KLK7, KLK8, KLK10, KLK11, KLK13 and KLK14 in the SC and serum of patients with psoriasis, and their variation between lesional and nonlesional areas and with phenotype, therapy and severity. The overall SC serine protease activities were also measured. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and enzymatic assays were used. Results The lesional SC of psoriasis generally contained significantly higher levels of all KLKs. KLK6, KLK10 and KLK13 levels were significantly elevated even in the nonlesional SC. The overall trypsin-like, plasmin-like and furin-like activities were significantly elevated in the lesional SC. Plasmin-like activity was significantly elevated also in the nonlesional SC. The SC chymotrypsin-like activity was only slightly elevated in psoriasis. KLK7 serum levels did not differ between normal volunteers and patients with psoriasis. Serum KLK6, KLK8, KLK10 and KLK13 levels in patients with untreated psoriasis significantly correlated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score. Serum KLK5 and KLK11 levels decreased in patients with psoriasis after therapy, especially with etretinate. Patients with erythrodermic psoriasis exhibited significantly higher serum KLK levels than normal subjects or patients with psoriasis vulgaris or arthropathic psoriasis. Conclusions We found aberrant KLK levels in the SC and serum of patients with psoriasis and suggest that KLKs might be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.