Caspase-14, a protease involved in skin barrier formation, is specifically expressed in epidermal keratinocytes (KCs). Here, we mapped three start sites of transcription of the human caspase-14 gene and analyzed the upstream chromosomal region for promoter activity. Reporter gene assays identified a core promoter region proximal to the first exon and a distal regulatory region which differentially suppressed promoter activity in KC and other cells. Sequence elements in the proximal promoter were bound by the transcription factors AP-1 (JunB, c-Jun, JunD, Fra-1 and Fra-2) and NF kappa B (p50 and Re1B). Our data reveal the basic organization of the human caspase-14 promoter and suggest an important role of AP-1 and NF kappa B in the transcriptional control of caspase-14. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.