Abstract: Genetic evidence that an imbalance in the activity of serine proteases can cause severe skin disease has recently been presented. The serine protease SCCE is preferentially expressed in cornifying epithelia. Increased expression of SCCE in psoriasis has previously been reported. Increased SCCE expression also in chronic lesions of atopic dermatitis is described herein. Transgenic mice expressing human SCCE in suprabasal epidermal keratinocytes were found to develop pathological skin changes with increased epidermal thickness, hyperkeratosis, dermal inflammation, and severe pruritus. The results strengthen the idea that SCCE may be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases, and may offer a new therapeutic target.

Abstract: Genetic evidence that an imbalance in the activity of serine proteases can cause severe skin disease has recently been presented. The serine protease SCCE is preferentially expressed in cornifying epithelia. Increased expression of SCCE in psoriasis has previously been reported. Increased SCCE expression also in chronic lesions of atopic dermatitis is described herein. Transgenic mice expressing human SCCE in suprabasal epidermal keratinocytes were found to develop pathological skin changes with increased epidermal thickness, hyperkeratosis, dermal inflammation, and severe pruritus. The results strengthen the idea that SCCE may be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases, and may offer a new therapeutic target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or an analogue or variant thereof having SCCE activity as defined in the present application, such as a polypeptide having a sub-sequence of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2. Furthermore, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides having SCCE activity as well as to expression systems, expression vectors, plasmids and non-human organisms comprising said nucleotide sequences. Important aspects of the present invention relate to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and skin care compositions comprising a polypeptide having SCCE activity, and the use of a polypeptide having SCCE activity for the treatment or prophylaxis of various diseases such as acne, xeroderma or other hyperkeratotic conditions such as callosities and keratosis pilaris as well as the various ichthyoses, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases such as eczemas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or an analogue or variant thereof having SCCE activity as defined in the present application, such as a polypeptide having a subsequence of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2. Furthermore, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides having SCCE activity as well as to expression systems, expression vectors, plasmids and non-human organisms comprising said nucleotide sequences. Important aspects of the present invention relate to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and skin care compositions comprising a polypeptide having SCCE activity, and the use of a polypeptide having SCCE activity for the treatment or prophylaxis of various diseases such as acne, xeroderma or other hyperkeratotic conditions such as callosities and keratosis pilaris as well as the various ichthyoses, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases such as eczemas.