title: Cysteine protease cathepsins and matrix metalloproteinases in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: Both cysteine protease cathepsins and matrix metalloproteinases are implicated in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in humans and animals. Blood and aortic tissues from humans or animals with AAAs contain much higher levels of these proteases, and often lower levels of their endogenous inhibitors, than do blood and aortic tissues from healthy subjects. Protease- and protease inhibitor-deficient mice and synthetic protease inhibitors have affirmed that cysteinyl cathepsins and matrix metalloproteinases both participate directly in AAA development in several experimental model systems. Here, we summarize our current understanding of how proteases contribute to the pathogenesis of AAA, and discuss whether proteases or their inhibitors may serve as diagnostic biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for this common human arterial disease.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing An Zhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung & Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Yanwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yaoguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guo-Ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000502:physiology*; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D002403:Cathepsins; D057056:Cysteine Proteases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases