USE OF CASPASE-14 AND CASPASE-14 MODULATORS TO DIAGNOSE AND/OR TREAT SKIN, EYE AND BRAIN DISORDERS

摘要

The present invention is based on the finding that caspase-14 is expressed in epithelial tissue such as the epidermis, the epithelial layer of the choroid plexus and the pigmented retinal layer. The invention relates to the involvement of caspase-14 in keratinocyte differentiation and in a properly functioning blood-brain barrier and blood-eye barrier. The present invention specifically relates to nucleic acids encoding caspase-14, caspase-14 protein and modulators of caspase-14 expression, activation and bioactivity that can be used to diagnose and/or treat keratinocyte differentiation disorders, disturbances in the blood-eye barrier and brain disorders.