Attenuated kallikrein‐related peptidase activity disrupts desquamation and leads to stratum corneum thickening in human skin equivalent models

Epidermal homeostasis is maintained through the balance between keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation and desquamation; however, human skin equivalent (HSE) models are known to differentiate excessively. In native tissue, proteases such as kallikrein‐related peptidase (KLK) 5 and KLK7 cleave the extracellular components of corneodesmosomes; proteins corneodesmosin, desmocollin 1 and desmoglein 1, loosening the cellular connections and...