Bikunin, a Serine Protease Inhibitor, Is Present on the Cell Boundary of Epidermis

Balanced protease activity is crucial for healthy skin and hair development.

This study reports that the monoclonal antibody BKN-1 specifically stained basal cell epithelioma cells and certain normal skin structures, indicating a similarity in keratin expression between the tumor and follicular epithelium below the isthmus portion.

This study suggests that basonuclin in keratinocytes is likely a regulatory molecule linked to maintaining proliferative capacity and preventing terminal differentiation rather than a cell cycle marker.

This study found that nexin 1 mRNA, a potent protease inhibitor, is prevalent in rat follicular papilla cells and may play a role in regulating hair follicular growth.