Cathepsin B in programmed cell death machinery: mechanisms of execution and regulatory pathways

• Published in: Cell death & disease Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 255
• Main Authors: Xie, Zhen, Zhao, Mengyuan, Yan, Chengxiang, Kong, Wei, Lan, Fei, Narengaowa, Zhao, Shuxuan, Yang, Qinghu, Bai, Zhantao, Qing, Hong, Ni, Junjun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 08.04.2023; Springer Nature B.V; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/337; 631/80; Antibodies; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - physiology; Autophagy; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cathepsin B; Cathepsin B - metabolism; Cell Biology; Cell Culture; Cell death; Cysteine proteinase; Cytochrome; Endoplasmic reticulum; Ferroptosis; Homeostasis; Immunology; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Lysosomes - metabolism; Mitochondria; Necroptosis; Peptides; Physiology; Proteins; Pyroptosis; Review; Review Article
• ISSN: 2041-4889; 2041-4889
• DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05786-0

Cathepsin B (CatB), a cysteine protease, is primarily localized within subcellular endosomal and lysosomal compartments. It is involved in the turnover of intracellular and extracellular proteins. Interest is growing in CatB due to its diverse roles in physiological and pathological processes. In functional defective tissues, programmed cell death (PCD) is one of the regulable fundamental mechanisms mediated by CatB, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and autophagic cell death. However, CatB-mediated PCD is responsible for disease progression under pathological conditions. In this review, we provide an overview of the critical roles and regulatory pathways of CatB in different types of PCD, and discuss the possibility of CatB as an attractive target in multiple diseases. We also summarize current gaps in the understanding of the involvement of CatB in PCD to highlight future avenues for research.