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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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KLK15
kallikrein related peptidase 15
Chromosome 19 · 19q13.33
NCBI Gene: 55554Ensembl: ENSG00000174562.14HGNC: HGNC:20453UniProt: A0A6B7HBY5
47PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Protease
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingserine-type endopeptidase activityprotein maturationGO:0005615nephrolithiasisureterolithiasisbladder calculusmetabolic syndrome
✦AI Summary

KLK15 (kallikrein-related peptidase 15) is a serine protease encoded on chromosome 19.4 that exhibits trypsin-like proteolytic activity 1. While its physiological substrate remains uncharacterized, KLK15 likely participates in prostate-specific antigen (PSA/KLK3) activation 1. The gene encodes multiple alternatively spliced transcripts with tissue-specific expression patterns, primarily in thyroid, prostate, salivary, and adrenal glands 2, with emerging evidence of expression in hepatic tissue where KLK15 is upregulated in lipogenic pathways 3. KLK15 expression is androgen-regulated 2 and shows cancer-type-dependent prognostic significance: in prostate cancer, elevated KLK15 mRNA correlates with disease aggressiveness and shortened progression-free survival 4, while in breast cancer, higher KLK15 expression independently predicts favorable outcomes 5. Genetic variants in KLK15, particularly rs2659056, associate with prostate cancer aggressiveness and Gleason score through predicted effects on RORα transcription factor binding 6. KLK15 protein has been detected in prostate, colon, thyroid tissues, seminal plasma, and breast milk 7, supporting its utility as a cancer biomarker across multiple malignancies.

Sources cited
1
KLK15 exhibits trypsin-like activity and likely activates PSA; multiple alternative splice variants exist with cancer-specific expression patterns
PMID: 32334022
2
KLK15 is primarily expressed in thyroid, prostate, salivary, and adrenal glands; expression is upregulated by steroid hormones and in prostate cancer
PMID: 11010966
3
KLK15 (Klk15/Aco) expression is upregulated in liver tissue as part of lipogenic/lipolytic pathways in steatohepatitis models
PMID: 29273476
4
KLK15 expression is significantly upregulated in prostate cancer versus benign samples and is an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence
PMID: 23620432
5
KLK15 is an independent favorable prognostic marker for breast cancer progression-free and overall survival; is androgen-regulated
PMID: 12439720
6
KLK15 SNP rs2659056 associates with prostate cancer aggressiveness and Gleason score through effects on RORα transcription factor binding
PMID: 22132073
7
KLK15 protein is detectable in prostate, colon, thyroid tissues, seminal plasma, and breast milk using immunoassays
PMID: 17045982
8
KLK15 is one of 15 human kallikrein genes clustered on chromosome 19q13.4; encodes a serine protease with tissue-specific expression
PMID: 11258672
Disease Associationsⓘ20
nephrolithiasisOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
ureterolithiasisOpen Targets
0.37Weak
bladder calculusOpen Targets
0.37Weak
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
prostate cancerOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
ovarian cancerOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasiaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
prostate carcinomaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Abnormality of blood and blood-forming tissuesOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
optic atrophyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
benign prostatic hyperplasiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
carcinoma of liver and intrahepatic biliary tractOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
Crohn's diseaseOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
infectionOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
colorectal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
pachyonychia congenitaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
chronic kidney diseaseOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
KLK10Shared pathway100%KLK11Shared pathway100%KLK13Shared pathway100%KLK12Shared pathway100%PRSS57Shared pathway100%KLK9Shared pathway100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Ovary
0%
Liver
0%
Brain
0%
Heart
0%
Lung
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
KLK15KLK10KLK11KLK13KLK12PRSS57KLK9
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q6UBM2
View on AlphaFold ↗
RankingsWhere KLK15 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #9,228of 20,598
    Most Researched47
Genes detectedKLK15
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Gasdermin D plays a key role as a pyroptosis executor of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in humans and mice.
PMID: 29273476
J Hepatol · 2018
1.00
2
The androgen-regulated gene human kallikrein 15 (KLK15) is an independent and favourable prognostic marker for breast cancer.
PMID: 12439720
Br J Cancer · 2002
0.90
3
Association between Prostinogen (KLK15) genetic variants and prostate cancer risk and aggressiveness in Australia and a meta-analysis of GWAS data.
PMID: 22132073
PLoS One · 2011
0.80
4
Quantified KLK15 gene expression levels discriminate prostate cancer from benign tumors and constitute a novel independent predictor of disease progression.
PMID: 23620432
Prostate · 2013
0.70
5
Molecular cloning of the human kallikrein 15 gene (KLK15). Up-regulation in prostate cancer.
PMID: 11010966
J Biol Chem · 2001
0.60