Kalllikrein-8 is a serine protease capable of degrading several proteins such as casein, fibrinogen, kininogen, fibronectin and callagen type IV. It also cleaves L1CAM in response to increased neural activity. It induces neurite outgrowth and fasciculation of cultured hippocampal neurons. It plays a role in the formation and maturation of orphan and small synaptic boutons in the Schaffer-collateral pathway, regulates Schaffer-collateral long-term potentiation in the hippocampus and is required for memory acquisition and synaptic plasticity. It is  involved in skin desquamation and keratinocyte proliferation. Plays a role in the secondary phase of pathogenesis following spinal cord injury. It is Inhibited by a range of serine protease inhibitors including antipain, aprotinin, leupeptin, benzamidine and soybean trypsin inhibitor. It is a secreted protein that has 4 named isoforms produced by alternative splicing. Isoform 1 is predominantly expressed in the pancreas while isoform 2 is expressed in adult brain and hippocampus. Both forms are also found in fetal brain and placenta. Displays an 11.5-fold increase in Alzheimer disease hippocampus compared to controls and is overexpressed in some ovarian carcinomas. Expressed at low levels in normal skin while high levels are found in psoriasis vulgaris, seborrheic keratosis, lichen planus and squamous cell carcinoma skin samples.