Diverse regulatory roles for lysosomal proteases in the immune response

作者：Colbert Jeff D; Matthews Stephen P; Miller Gail; Watts Colin^*

来源：European Journal of Immunology, 2009, 39(11): 2955-2965.

DOI：10.1002/eji.200939650

• Cathepsins
• Endosomes
• Immune regulation
• Lysosomes

The innate and adaptive immune system utilise endocytic protease activity to promote functional immune responses. Cysteine and aspartic proteases (cathepsins) constitute a subset of endocytic proteases, the immune function of which has been described extensively. Although historically these studies have focused on their role in processes such as antigen presentation and zymogen processing within the endocytic compartment, recent discoveries have demonstrated a critical role for these proteases in other intracellular compartments, and within the extracellular milieu. It has also become clear that their pattern of expression and substrate specificities are more diverse than was first envisaged. Here, we discuss recent advances addressing the role of lysosomal proteases in various aspects of the immune response. We pay attention to reports demonstrating cathepsin activity outside of its canonical endosome/lysosome microenvironment.

• 出版日期2009-11