Cysteine cathepsins are endosomal proteases that are involved in lysosomal protein degradation. Additionally, they engage in specific biological processes, like bone degradation (CatK), antigen presentation (CatS) and pro-hormone processing (CatV and CatL). Their enhanced activity was described in numerous pathological states, like cancer and viral activation, which made them promising …
Innate immune system acts as the first line of defence to protect the host against pathogens. The regulation of immune system and inflammatory response is crucial since dysregulated or sustained inflammation leads to pathological conditions, septic shock and tissue damage. Macrophages are innate immune cells that sense pathogens with pattern …
Programmed cell death is a highly organized process by which multicellular organisms eliminate damaged, superfluous and potentially harmful cells. Apoptosis is the most studied form of programmed cell death. It is characterized by typical morphological and biochemical changes which are a consequence of activation of cysteine proteases, caspases. Apoptosis is …