Huang D, Li YL, Cheng X. Contribution of lysosomal cysteine proteases in cardiac and renal diseases. World J Hypertens 2012; 2(3): 29-33 [DOI: 10.5494/wjh.v2.i3.29]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xianwu Cheng, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. chengxw0908@yahoo.com.cn
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Editorial
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World J Hypertens. Jun 23, 2012; 2(3): 29-33 Published online Jun 23, 2012. doi: 10.5494/wjh.v2.i3.29
Contribution of lysosomal cysteine proteases in cardiac and renal diseases
Damin Huang, Yang-Long Li, Xianwu Cheng
Damin Huang, Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital (Chongming), School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 202150, China
Yang-Long Li, Department of Cardiology, The Longjing City Hospital, Longjing 133400, Jilin Province, China
Xianwu Cheng, Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
Xianwu Cheng, Department of Cardiology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji 133000, Jilin Province, China
Xianwu Cheng, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul 130-701, South Korea
Author contributions: Cheng X drafted manuscript, handled funding and supervision; Huang D and Li YL revised manuscript.
Supported by Grants from the Japan Heart Foundation/Novartis Research Award on Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, No. 26-007523 (to Cheng X); and The Scientific Research Fund of the Chinese Ministry of Education, No. 30960128 (to Cheng X)
Correspondence to: Xianwu Cheng, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. chengxw0908@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +81-52-7442364 Fax: +81-52-7442371
Received: August 8, 2011 Revised: May 20, 2012 Accepted: June 12, 2012 Published online: June 23, 2012
Abstract
Cardiac and renal diseases (CRDs) are characterized by extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture of the cardiorenal system. Among the many extracellular proteolytic enzymes present in cardiorenal cells and involved in ECM remodeling, members of the matrix metalloproteinase family and serine protease family have received the most attention. However, recent findings from laboratory and clinical studies have indicated that cysteine protease cathepsins also participate in pathogenesis of the heart and kidney. Deficiency and pharmacological inhibition of cathepsins have allowed their in vivo evaluation in the setting of pathological conditions. Furthermore, recent studies evaluating the feasibility of cathepsins as a diagnostic tool have suggested that the serum levels of cathepsins L, S and K and their endogenous inhibitor cystatin C have predictive value as biomarkers in patients with coronary artery disease and heart and renal failure. The goal of this review is to highlight recent discoveries regarding the contributions of cathepsins in CRDs, particularly hypertensive heart failure and proteinuric kidney disease.
