Cathepsin K expression is diminished in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
The expression of a potent collagenolytic enzyme, cathepsin K, was measured in repeated tracheal aspirate samples from premature infants with and without a chronic lung disorder, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). At 9--13 d, but not before, cathepsin K expression was significantly lower in the lungs of premature infants developing BPD.


CONCLUSIONS
Insufficient pulmonary cathepsin K in BPD may predispose premature lungs to pulmonary fibrosis.
Knaapi
Jonni
J
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. jonni.knaapi@utu.fi
Lukkarinen
Heikki
H
Kiviranta
Riku
R
Steiner
Aida
A
Lassus
Patrick
P
Andersson
Sture
S
Kääpä
Pekka
P
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism*; D056657:Cathepsin K; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
D002403:Cathepsins; C534130:CTSK protein, human; D056657:Cathepsin K; C534133:Ctsk protein, rat