title: Cysteine cathepsin S as an immunomodulatory target: present and future trends.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antigen presentation is the key to immune response. Cathepsin S plays a major role in the degradation of the invariant peptide chain associated with the major histocompatibility complex and thus affects antigen presentation. This review will focus on the recent developments made in field of cysteine cathepsins especially cathepsin S and their future prospects as a therapeutic target.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective cathepsin inhibitors for targeting autoimmune disorders, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and cancer are being pursued by many pharmaceutical companies. Recent publications in this field have been used as references to evaluate the current and future trends in cathepsin S inhibitors as an immunomodulatory target.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The temporal and spatial position occupied by cathepsin S in immune presentation, gives rise to the hope that an inhibitor would impart selectivity with a lesser propensity for side effects than other immunosuppressive agents.
authors.affiliation: Ranbaxy Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, New Drug Discovery Research, Plot 20, Sector 18, Udyog Vihar Industrial Area, Gurgaon-1220015, Haryana, India. suman.gupta@ranbaxy.com
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Rakesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Sunanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dastidar
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D002403:Cathepsins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C028217:cathepsin S