Immunohistochemical study of cathepsin D in the spinal cords of rats with clip compression injury.
This study examined the temporal expression of cathepsin D protein and its cellular localization in the spinal cords of rats after a clip compression injury to determine the involvement of cathepsin D in spinal cord injury (SCI). Western blot analysis showed a significant increase in the approximately 31-kDa active form of cathepsin D on days 4 and 7 after the SCI, while the level of the approximately 44-kDa inactive form remained relatively unchanged. Immunohistochemistry revealed cathepsin D with constitutive localization in most neurons and some gliocytes in the normal spinal cord to be intensely immuno-detected primarily in CD68-positive activated macrophages/microglia in the SCI lesions. Overall, these findings suggest that cathepsin D plays an important role in the phagocytosis and lysosomal activation of macrophages/microglia during the central nervous system inflammation caused by trauma.
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea.
Changjong
C
Moon
Tae-Ki
TK
Lee
Heechul
H
Kim
Meejung
M
Ahn
Yongduk
Y
Lee
Moon Doo
MD
Kim
Ki-Bum
KB
Sim
Taekyun
T
Shin
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051381:Rats; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D002402:Cathepsin D