Description
Kallikrein-8, also known as Neuropsin, Serine protease 19, Serine protease TADG-14, Tumor-associated differentially expressed gene 14 protein and KLK8, is a secreted protein which belongs to the peptidase S1 family and Kallikrein subfamily. It is a serine protease which is capable of degrading a number of proteins such as casein, fibrinogen, kininogen, fibronectin and collagen type IV. Kallikrein-8 / KLK8 is involved in skin desquamation and keratinocyte proliferation and plays a role in the secondary phase of pathogenesis following spinal cord injury. Kallikrein-8 / KLK8 is expressed at high levels in serum, ascites fluid and tumor cytosol of advanced stage ovarian cancer patients and may serve as a marker of ovarian cancer.