Cathepsins in oral diseases

Abstract

Cathepsins are a class of globular lysosomal proteases known to be responsible for protein degradation. In addition to proteolysis they have many biological roles such as apoptosis wound healing angiogenesis, proenzymatic activation, bone remodelling and resorption. Cathepsins role has been implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic diseases such as cancer, bronchial asthma, atherosclerosis, neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This review highlights the role of cathepsins in various oral diseases like periodontitis, odontogenic cysts, ameloblastomas, salivary gland tumours and oral malignant melanoma.

Keywords

• cancer
• caries
• cathepsin
• oral
• periodontitis
• proteases