EXPRESSION OF STRATUM-CORNEUM CHYMOTRYPTIC ENZYME IN HUMAN SEBACEOUS FOLLICLES

Stratum corneum chymotryptic enzyme (SCCE) may be involved in desquama tion, a process necessary for maintaining a normal anatomy at all site s where there is continuous turnover of cornified epithelia. Using imm unohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, Ne have, in this work, an alysed SCCE expression in the sebaceous follicle. We found expression of SCCE in luminal parts of the pilary canal, common sebaceous ducts a nd proximal sebaceous ducts. In addition, SCCE was seen in cells appar ently situated within the distal parts of the glandular lobules. Go-ex pression of SCCE and keratin 10 was seen only in the pilary canal and the common sebaceous ducts. The results give further support for SCCE being involved in desquamation-like processes. The association with co rnification seems to be more general for SCCE than for keratin 10. The possible role of SCCE in diseases involving disturbances in the turno ver of cornified cells in the sebaceous follicle, such as acne vulgari s, is a question for future studies.