Levels of cathepsins S and H in pleural fluids of inflammatory and neoplastic origin

• Published in: The International journal of biological markers Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 47 - 51
• Main Authors: BUNATOVA, Karin, OBERMAJER, Natasa, KOTYZA, Jaromír, PESEK, Milos, KOS, Janko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milano Wichtig 2009
• Subjects: Aged; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cathepsin H; Cathepsins - blood; Cathepsins - metabolism; Cysteine Endopeptidases - blood; Cysteine Endopeptidases - metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Inflammation - enzymology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lung Neoplasms - enzymology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Molecular biophysics; Paraneoplastic Syndromes - enzymology; Pleural Effusion - enzymology; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - enzymology; Pleurisy - enzymology; Lung disease; Enzyme; Respiratory disease; Cysteine endopeptidases; Lung cancer; Cathepsin H; Pleural effusion; Biochemistry; Inflammation; Cathepsin S; Malignant tumor; Peptidases; Clinical biology; Pleurisy; Hydrolases; Pleural disease; Bronchus disease; Molecular biology; Pleural fluid; Cancer
• ISSN: 0393-6155; 1724-6008; 1724-6008
• DOI: 10.1177/172460080902400107

Cathepsins S and H are present in immune cells and tissues and may play a role in the activation of an adoptive immune response. Our goal was to assess their protein levels in pleural fluids from 82 patients who underwent thoracentesis or thoracoscopy for therapeutic or diagnostic reasons and to relate them to an inflammatory, neoplastic or hemodynamic origin. Pleural effusions were also analyzed for a panel of 13 inflammatory or proliferative markers to test possible links to a nonspecific host reaction. Increased levels of cathepsin S were found in parainflammatory and cancer-related effusions compared to transudates. Cathepsin H levels were elevated only in parainflammatory effusions, whereas the levels in cancer-related effusions were comparable to transudates. Cathepsin S values significantly correlated with LDH, alpha-1-AT, VEGF, sICAM, sVCAM, MPO, uPA, MMP-9/TIMP-1, IL-8 and MCP-1, but not with CRP, IL-10 or cathepsin H. In contrast to cathepsin S, cathepsin H values did not correlate with markers of inflammation, indicating a specific role for cathepsin H in the pleural host response. In conclusion, the estimation of cathepsin S and cathepsin H may help to distinguish between effusions of different etiology.