Caspases are proteases that regulate apoptosis as well as inflammation. Denecker et al. show that caspase-14 controls the maturation of the epidermis by proteolytically processing filaggrin. The ultimate products of this cleavage prevent UVB photodamage and water loss, affecting skin osmolarity and moisture. Although this work sets caspase-14 apart from its family members, it also reinforces their role in host defence responses.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Yuan, J., Shaham, S., Ledoux, S., Ellis, H. M., Horvitz, H. R. Cell 75, 641–652 (1993).
Ameisen, J. C. Cell Death Differ. 9, 367–393 (2002).
Koonin, E. V. & Aravind, L. Cell Death Differ. 9, 394–404 (2002).
Melino, G. Nature 412, 23 (2001).
Denecker, G. et al. Nature Cell Biol. 9, 666–674 (2007).
Martinon, F. & Tschopp, J. Cell Death Differ. 14, 10–22 (2007).
Kumar, S. Cell Death Differ. 14, 32–43 (2007).
Callus, B. A. & Vaux, D. L. Cell Death Differ. 14, 73–78 (2007).
Nicholson, D. W. Cell Death Differ. 6, 1028–1042 (1999).
Yuan, J. Molecular Cell 23, 1–12 (2006).
Candi, E., Schmidt, R. & Melino, G. Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 6, 328–340 (2005).
Zeeuwen, P. L. Eur. J. Cell Biol. 83, 761–773 (2004).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nicotera, P., Melino, G. Caspase-14 and epidermis maturation. Nat Cell Biol 9, 621–622 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0607-621
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0607-621
This article is cited by
-
Expression of caspase-14 and keratin-19 in the human epidermis and appendages during fetal skin development
Archives of Dermatological Research (2013)