Abstract
Cysteine cathepsins are a large family of proteolytic enzymes active at acidic pH as found in lysosomes. Since its discovery in 1990s, cathepsin K has been shown to be a key enzyme in osteoclastic bone resorption through its activity in the resorption lacuna. Although characteristic to osteoclasts, the expression of cathepsin K has also been observed at other sites in skeleton. Several recent observations have demonstrated up-regulation of cathepsin K in osteoarthritic cartilage and inflamed synovial tissue. As cathepsin K is one of the few extracellular proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading native fibrillar collagen, it may play an important role in the progressive destruction of articular cartilage both in osteoarthritis and in inflammatory arthritides. Also transgenic mouse models have provided evidence supporting the important role of cathepsin K in both groups of arthritides. The aim of this chapter is to review the accumulating evidence for the role of cathepsin K in degradation of articular cartilage regardless of its pathogenic background, and to discuss the potential efficacy of cathepsin K inhibitors to slow down or prevent articular cartilage degradation.
Keywords: bone, cartilage, cathepsin, collagen, inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, synovial tissue
Current Drug Targets
Title: Role of Cathepsin K in Normal Joints and in the Development of Arthritis
Volume: 8 Issue: 2
Author(s): H. J. Salminen-Mankonen, J. Morko and E. Vuorio
Affiliation:
Keywords: bone, cartilage, cathepsin, collagen, inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, synovial tissue
Abstract: Cysteine cathepsins are a large family of proteolytic enzymes active at acidic pH as found in lysosomes. Since its discovery in 1990s, cathepsin K has been shown to be a key enzyme in osteoclastic bone resorption through its activity in the resorption lacuna. Although characteristic to osteoclasts, the expression of cathepsin K has also been observed at other sites in skeleton. Several recent observations have demonstrated up-regulation of cathepsin K in osteoarthritic cartilage and inflamed synovial tissue. As cathepsin K is one of the few extracellular proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading native fibrillar collagen, it may play an important role in the progressive destruction of articular cartilage both in osteoarthritis and in inflammatory arthritides. Also transgenic mouse models have provided evidence supporting the important role of cathepsin K in both groups of arthritides. The aim of this chapter is to review the accumulating evidence for the role of cathepsin K in degradation of articular cartilage regardless of its pathogenic background, and to discuss the potential efficacy of cathepsin K inhibitors to slow down or prevent articular cartilage degradation.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Salminen-Mankonen J. H., Morko J. and Vuorio E., Role of Cathepsin K in Normal Joints and in the Development of Arthritis, Current Drug Targets 2007; 8 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945007779940188
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945007779940188 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Drug-Targeted Approach with Polymer Nanocomposites for Improved Therapeutics
Polymer nanocomposites have been recognized as an advanced and cutting-edge technique in drug targeting administration. These materials combine the unique features of nanoparticles with the adaptability of polymers to produce highly personalized drug administration devices. Integrating nanoparticles containing pharmaceuticals into a polymer matrix enables researchers to regulate the rates at ...read more
RNA Molecules in the Treatment of Human Diseases
Messenger and non-coding RNAs, including long and small transcripts, are mediators of gene expression. Gene expression at the RNA level shows significant aberrations in human diseases, including cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. Human transcripts serve either as biomarkers of diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of treatment response and/or therapy ...read more
![](/images/wayfinder.jpg)
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 in Tumor Radioresistance
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Can the Use of HIV-1 Derived Gene Transfer Vectors for Clinical Application be Justified?
Current Gene Therapy The mTOR Pathway: A New Target in Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Cancer Stem Cells and Chemoresistance in Ewing Sarcoma
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy New Trends in Liposome-based Drug Delivery in Colorectal Cancer
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Mechanism of Cancer Drug Resistance and the Involvement of Noncoding RNAs
Current Medicinal Chemistry MicroRNAs and Targeted Therapies in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Minireview
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry The Use of Therapeutic Peptides to Target and to Kill Cancer Cells
Current Medicinal Chemistry Therapeutic Targeting of Chemokines with Monoclonal Antibodies
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Targeted – Therapy and Imaging Response: A New Paradigm For Clinical Evaluation?
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials BRAF Inhibitor Therapy for Melanoma, Thyroid and Colorectal Cancers: Development of Resistance and Future Prospects
Current Cancer Drug Targets Therapeutic Targeting of Apoptotic Pathways in Cancer
Current Drug Targets Anti-cancer Potential of <i>Hypericum</i> spp. with Focus on <i>Hypericum Perforatum</i>: A Review of the Literature
Current Traditional Medicine Insertional Mutagenesis by Retroviral Vectors: Current Concepts and Methods of Analysis
Current Gene Therapy Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors and the Emergence of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS)
Current HIV Research Role of Fractalkine (CX3CL1) in Regulating Neuron-Microglia Interactions: Development of Viral-Based CX3CR1 Antagonists
Current Alzheimer Research P-Chiral Oligonucleotides in Biological Recognition Processes
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Naphthyridines with Antiviral Activity - A Review
Medicinal Chemistry Development of Anticancer Agents from Plant-Derived Sesquiterpene Lactones
Current Medicinal Chemistry Novel Systemic Drugs for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery