title: Extracellular proteases in atherosclerosis and restenosis.
abstract: Extracellular proteolysis plays a key role in many pathophysiologic processes including cancer, inflammatory diseases, and cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. Whereas matrix metalloproteinases are their best known member, many others are becoming better known. The extracellular proteases are a complex and heterogeneous superfamily of enzymes. They include metalloproteinases (matrix metalloproteinases, adamalysins, or pappalysins), serine proteases (elastase, coagulation factors, plasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase plasminogen activator), and the cysteine proteases (such cathepsins). In addition to their matrix degradation capabilities, they have other less well known biologic functions that include angiogenesis, growth factor bioavailability, cytokine modulation, receptor shedding, enhancing cell migration, proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. This review discusses extracellular proteases relevant to the vasculature, their classification and function, and how protease disorders contribute to arterial plaque growth, including chronic atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndromes, restenosis, and vascular remodeling. These broad extracellular protease functions make them potentially interesting therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Minnesota Cardiovascular Research Institute, Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minneapolis, Minn 55407, USA.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Touchard
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sangiorgi
authors.forename: Luigi Giusto
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauriello
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conover
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000201:enzymology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010447:Peptide Hydrolases