Expression of serine protease inhibitors in epidermal keratinocytes is increased by calcium but not 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or retinoic acid

Background In human skin, the serine proteases kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK)5 and KLK7 degrade corneodesmosome proteins, leading to desquamation. Serine protease activity of the skin is tightly regulated by the interplay between such proteases and serine protease inhibitors, including lymphoepithelial Kazal-type related inhibitor (LEKTI), encoded by SPINK5; secretory leucocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI); and elafin. Expression of KLK5 and KLK7 is controlled and upregulated by stimulants such as calcium, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 [1,25(OH)(2)VD3] and retinoic acid (RA). Objectives To understand the effect of calcium, 1,25(OH)(2)VD3 and RA on the expression of serine protease inhibitors in epidermal keratinocytes. Methods We stimulated normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) with high calcium, 1,25(OH)(2)VD3 or RA, and then analysed the expression of serine protease inhibitors using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunocytofluorescence. We also analysed trypsin-and chymotrypsin-like serine protease activities in stimulated NHEKs. Results High calcium, but not 1,25(OH)(2)VD3 or RA, significantly induced the expression of LEKTI, SLPI and elafin at both transcript and protein levels in NHEKs. These inductions were time-and dose-dependent. The activities of trypsin-and chymotrypsin-like serine proteases were significantly up-and downregulated by high calcium, respectively, in NHEKs. Conclusions High calcium, but not 1,25(OH)(2)VD3 or RA, increases the expression of serine protease inhibitors in epidermal keratinocytes. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms by which serine protease activities are regulated by serine proteases and related inhibitors in epidermal keratinocytes.