组织蛋白酶D在恶性肿瘤中的研究进展

Progress of cathepsin D in cancer

恶性肿瘤的发生、发展、浸润及转移是一个相当复杂的过程，也是多因素参与的过程。其中一些生物因子发挥了关键性作用。组织蛋白酶D作为一种广泛存在的溶酶体蛋白酶，近年来受到了极大的关注。众多研究显示，多种恶性肿瘤细胞可过表达并过度分泌组织蛋白酶D。事实上，它在肿瘤进展的多个步骤，如肿瘤细胞的增生、浸润和转移，成纤维细胞的生长，肿瘤血管生成，以及在抑制肿瘤细胞凋亡中都起着至关重要的作用。此外，组织蛋白酶D还是一种诱导凋亡的重要介质。本文旨在综述组织蛋白酶D在恶性肿瘤进展和转移中的作用及其在凋亡中的双重功能。

Tumor cell invasion and metastasis are associated with the proteolytic activity of various types of proteinases. Among them, cathepsin D, which is a lysosomal proteinase, has received more attention recently. Various studies have shown that the lysosomal aspartic protease cathepsin D is over-expressed and hyper-secreted by numerous cancer cell lines. Indeed it plays an essential role in the multiple steps of tumor progression, in stimulating cancer cell proliferation, tumor invasion and metastasis, fibroblast outgrowth and angiogenesis, as well as in inhibiting tumor apoptosis. In addition, CD is also a key mediator of induced- apoptosis. The aim of this article is to review the current knowledge on Cathepsin D action in cancer progres- sion and metastasis, as well as its dual function in apoptosis.