Keratinocyte cell turnover enzymes

“Keratinocyte cell turnover enzymes” collectively refers to multiple enzymes involved in the regulation of keratinocyte renewal and differentiation. Key classes include **proteases** (notably, serine proteases like kallikreins, cysteine proteases like cathepsins), **transglutaminases** (especially transglutaminase 1, which crosslinks proteins for cornified envelope formation), and other regulatory enzymes such as certain kinases (for example, various isoforms of protein kinase C implicated in differentiation signaling). These enzymes orchestrate the complex molecular events underlying epidermal turnover: from cell proliferation in the basal layer, through differentiation in the spinous and granular layers, to the programmed cell death and proteolytic degradation that create corneocytes for the outer barrier. Dysregulation can lead to various skin diseases characterized by abnormal cell thickening, scaling, or compromised barrier function. As such, individual members of these enzyme families, but not the entire group as a whole, may be considered therapeutic targets.

Other names

Keratinocyte turnover enzymesEpidermal differentiation enzymesCornification-related enzymesProteases in skin barrier formation

Modulation of protease activity to regulate desquamation (shedding of corneocytes) Promotion or inhibition of terminal differentiation Alteration of barrier protein cross-linking (e.g., transglutaminases inducing cornified envelope formation)