KLK8 Polyclonal Antibody

Kallikrein 8 (hK8), also known as neuropsin, brain serine protease 1 (BSP1), tumor associated differentially expressed gene 14 (TADG14), PRSS19, HNP and ovasin, is a trypsin like serine protease. Originally described from mouse brain, KLK8 was implicated in neural plasticity and learning. Kallikrein 8 is thought to be involved in neurite outgrowth and fasciculation during nervous system development. Kallikrein 8 is induced in neurite injury, and Kallikrein 8 has been shown to be elevated in the hippocampus on Alzheimer’s patients’ brains. Animal models of autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) show elevated Kallikrein 8 production. Kallikrein 8 null mice have aberrant synapses in their hippocampus, compared to wild type mice, and are predisposed to seizures. Kallikrein 8 is thought to regulate the early phase of long-term potentiation (LTP), possibly by cleaving fibronectin and other substrates. Kallikrein 8 is also found in the uterus, where it is hormonally regulated. Cervical cancer cell lines express high levels of Kallikrein 8, and it may be useful as a tumor marker. Kallikrein 8 is not limited to the brain and uterus, as many tissues and cell lines make the protein. Endogenous inhibitors include serine protease inhibitor 3 and protein C inhibitor, although Kallikrein 8 can be found complexed to a number of different protease inhibitors.