Rodent and human tumor cell lines secrete a potent vascular permeability factor (VPF) which causes a rapid and substantial increase in microvascular permeability to plasma proteins without causing mast cell degranulation, or endothelial cell damage or without exciting an inflammatory cell infiltrate [D. R. Senger, S. J. Galli, A. M. Dvorak, C. A. Perruzzi, V. S. Harvey, and H. F. Dvorak. Scienc...

LEKTI is a 15-domain serine proteinase inhibitor whose defective expression underlies the severe autosomal recessive ichthyosiform skin disease, Netherton syndrome. Here, we show that LEKTI is produced as a precursor rapidly cleaved by furin, generating a variety of single or multidomain LEKTI fragments secreted in cultured keratinocytes and in the epidermis. The identity of these biological fr...

BACKGROUND Human kallikrein 15 (KLK15) may have some utility as a prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer biomarker, based on previous studies, which examined mRNA levels of KLK15. The aim of this study was to develop analytical technology for human kallikrein 15, including recombinant protein, specific antibodies, and a sensitive and specific ELISA immunoassay. The assay was then used to examine ...

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to develop immunologic reagents and a sensitive and specific immunoassay for human kallikrein 13 (hK13) and to examine the presence of hK13 in human tissues and biological fluids. METHODS Recombinant hK13 protein was produced and purified with use of a Pichia pastoris yeast expression system. The protein was used as an immunogen to generate mouse monoclo...

BACKGROUND Human kallikrein 4 (hK4) is a proteolytic enzyme belonging to the tissue kallikrein family of serine proteases. Previous tissue expression studies have demonstrated highest KLK4 mRNA expression in prostatic tissue, but there has been only limited evidence for the presence of hK4 protein in prostate and other tissues and in corresponding biological secretions. METHODS To investigate...

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...

We have purified and characterized the major N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester hydrolase from the venom of Heloderma horridum horridum. The enzyme belongs to the serine proteinase family, and its activity vs. peptide amide substrates and human high-molecular-weight kininogen suggests a similarity to the family of kallikreins. This interpretation is corroborated by its reactivity with the natural...