A Possible Contribution of Altered Cathepsin B Expression to the Development of Skin Sclerosis and Vasculopathy in Systemic Sclerosis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 2; p. e32272
• Main Authors: Noda, Shinji, Asano, Yoshihide, Akamata, Kaname, Aozasa, Naohiko, Taniguchi, Takashi, Takahashi, Takehiro, Ichimura, Yohei, Toyama, Tetsuo, Sumida, Hayakazu, Yanaba, Koichi, Tada, Yayoi, Sugaya, Makoto, Kadono, Takafumi, Sato, Shinichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 23.02.2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Antisense oligonucleotides; Arthritis; Autoimmune diseases; Biology; Blood vessels; Bone morphogenetic proteins; Calpain; Case-Control Studies; Cathepsin B; Cathepsin B - biosynthesis; Cathepsin B - physiology; Cathepsins; Collagen; Cytokines; Disease; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Female; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; FLI1 protein; Gene expression; Gene Silencing; Genetic engineering; Humans; Laboratories; Male; Matrix metalloproteinases; Medical research; Medical schools; Medicine; Mice; Microcirculation; Microvasculature; Pathogenesis; Patients; Proteolysis; Rheumatology; Scleroderma; Scleroderma (Disease); Scleroderma, Systemic - metabolism; Scleroderma, Systemic - pathology; Skin; Skin - pathology; Statistical analysis; Stem cells; Systemic sclerosis; Transforming growth factor; Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; Transforming growth factor-b; Transforming growth factor-b1; Transforming growth factors; Ulcers; Vascular diseases; Vascular Diseases - pathology; Vascular endothelial growth factor; United States > US; Japan

Cathepsin B (CTSB) is a proteolytic enzyme potentially modulating angiogenic processes and extracellular matrix remodeling. While matrix metalloproteinases are shown to be implicated in tissue fibrosis and vasculopathy associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), the role of cathepsins in this disease...