Atherosclerosis cathepsins

Relevant heparin-binding enzymes not involved in the coagulation cascade are, for example, elastase, cathepsin G, superoxide dismutase, lipoprotein lipase and other lipases. The plasma clearing properties of heparin are associated with its binding to lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase when the enzymes are released from the surface of endothelial cells [11] and have been studied in view of a potential impact on the regulation of atherosclerosis. 

Increased expression of several cathepsins in atherosclerotic lesions suggests that these proteases may participate in the remodeling of ECM associated with the atherosclerotic process (536). Hiunan atherosclerotic lesions overexpiess cathepsin S (lysosomal cysteine protease) and have low levels of the endogenous cathepsin S inhibitor, cystatin C, compared with normal arteries. LDL receptor -/- cathepsin S -/- mice developed less atherosclerosis than LDL receptor -/- mice (537). 

Sukhoya GK, Zhang Y, Pan JH, et al. Deficiency of cathepsin S reduces atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice. J Clin Invest 2003 111 897-906. Silence J, Lupu F, Collen D, Lijnen HR. Persistence of atherosclerotic plaque but reduced aneurysm formation in mice with stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) gene inactivation. Arterioscler Thromb Vase Biol 2001 21 1440-1445. 

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