Article

Cysteine cathepsins in the immune response.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Tissue Antigens (impact factor: 2.59). 06/2006; 67(5):349-55. DOI:10.1111/j.1399-0039.2006.00585.x pp.349-55
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Antigen (Ag) processing by major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC) class II molecules is tightly linked with the proteases of the endosomal/lysosomal system. Cysteine (Cys) cathepsins, which constitute a major portion of this proteolytic system, have been found to have essential roles in both Ag processing and maturation of the MHC class II molecules. In this review, we will cover some specific functions of individual Cys cathepsins and particularly those most relevant to the immune system.

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Keywords

Antigen
 
endosomal/lysosomal system
 
individual Cys cathepsins
 
major histocompatibility complex class II
 
major portion
 
maturation
 
MHC class II molecules
 
proteases
 
specific functions