Update on the epidermal differentiation complex

On human chromosome 1q21, a 2-Mb region called the epidermal differentiation complex comprises many genes encoding structural and regulatory proteins that are of crucial importance for keratinocyte differentiation and stratum corneum properties. Apart from those for involucrin and loricrin, most of the genes are organized in four families: the genes encoding EF-hand calcium-binding proteins of the S100A family, the genes encoding the small proline rich proteins (SPRRs) and the late cornified envelope (LCE) proteins, two families of cornified cell envelope components, and the genes encoding the S100-fused type proteins (SFTPs). This review focuses on the SPRRs, LCE proteins and SFTPs. It describes their structures, their specific functions and, when known, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of their expression. It also highlights their possible involvement in skin diseases.