Antibody Panel to Cathepsin Protease Family - Product Review 26

Introduction: The Cathepsins are a group of lysosomal thiol proteinases or endopeptidases found in extracts of various tissues.

Cathepsins, with the exception of Cathepsin S, are active under acidic, but unstable in neutral or alkaline conditions. Cathesin S is active at a neutral pH. The Cathepsins are synthesised by the conversion of a precursor into the mature glycoprotein. Cathepsin activity is regulated by the binding of endogenous protein inhibitors, called cystatins of which Stefin A and B are family members. They have been shown to be important in main physiological and pathological processes and to be of prognostic significance in a number of cancers.

In breast, lung, brain, head and neck cancer a significant prognostic value has been found measuring Cathepsin B activity either by protein assay or immunohistochemical determination. Serum levels of Cathepsin H appeared as prognostic markers for melanoma patients and predicted the effectiveness of the chemoimmunotherapy of these patients. In breast cancer over-expression of Cathepsin L is defined of one of the strongest prognostic factors for a subgroup of patients with node negative breast tumors.

Table 1: Cathepsin Protease Overview

* molecular weight of the unprocessed precursor

Antibody Tools for Detection of Cathepsin Proteases

Antibody products for the detection of most of the above listed Cathepsins are available at Acris Antibodies. These antibodies are suitable for various immunological procedures like immunohistochemistry, ELISA, immunoprecipitation or Western blotting.

Literature:

Available Antibodies to Cathepsin Proteases
Cathepsin B, Cathepsin D, Cathepsin F, Cathepsin G, Cathepsin H, Cathepsin K, Cathepsin L, Cathepsin L2 (U, V), Cathepsin W, Cathepsin Z ? antibody and Protective Protein / Cathepsin A (PPCA) antibody