Cathepsin propeptide and uses thereof

Abstract

A method of inhibiting activity of a cathepsin L-like protease in cells or tissue and the use of the method in the treatment of disease such as cancer and inflammatory diseases is described. The method comprises administration of a cathepsin propeptide or a nucleic acid encoding a cathepsin propeptide. In particular embodiments, the propeptide is a Cathepsin S propeptide. Further, the use of propeptides having an Fc portion is described.

Description

Technical field [0001] This application is about a peptide and its application in therapeutic methods. Specifically, it relates to a cathepsin propeptide, its production method and the application of the propeptide. Background technique [0002] Proteases are a large group of proteins that comprise approximately 2% of all gene products (Rawlings and Barrett, 1999). Proteases catalyze the hydrolysis of peptide bonds and are extremely important for the normal function of all cells and organisms. Proteolytic processing events are important in a wide range of cellular processes including bone formation, wound healing, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. [0003] Lysosomal cysteine ​​proteases were originally thought to be enzymes responsible for non-selective degradation of proteins in lysosomes. Usually related to lysosomal location, these proteases were initially thought to be involved only in non-selective degradation of endosomal compartment proteins. However, they are now known to be r...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The clinical use of this compound is not reliable due to low specificity, inhibition of proteases in normal tissues and possible reactivity to bystander proteins (Turk et al., 2004)

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