Immunohistochemical detection of cathepsin D, K, and L in the process of endochondral ossification in the human.
Cathepsins D, K, and L were immunolocalized in tissue undergoing endochondral ossification in the human. Cathepsins D, K, and L were localized in osteoclasts and chondroclasts attached to bone matrix and cartilage matrix, respectively. Cathepsins D and L were immunostained in chondrocytes. Immunolocalization of cathepsin D was limited to hypertrophic chondrocytes adjacent to the osteochondral junction. In contrast, cathepsin L was immunolocalized in both proliferating and hypertrophic chondrocytes. In the bone marrow space, cathepsins D, K, and L were localized in multinucleated cells. Cathepsin D was diffusely detected in mononuclear bone marrow cells which were negative for cathepsins K and L. The present findings indicated that cathepsins K, D, and L were associated with the process of endochondral ossification in the human, and suggested that these cathepsins share roles in bone and cartilage turnover in the human.
Nakase
T
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan. nakase@ort.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kaneko
M
M
Tomita
T
T
Myoui
A
A
Ariga
K
K
Sugamoto
K
K
Uchiyama
Y
Y
Ochi
T
T
Yoshikawa
H
H
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000201:enzymology*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000201:enzymology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis*; D056657:Cathepsin K; D056668:Cathepsin L; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000032:analysis*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D010012:Osteogenesis
D002403:Cathepsins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C534281:CTSL protein, human; D056668:Cathepsin L; C534130:CTSK protein, human; D056657:Cathepsin K; D002402:Cathepsin D