Figure 2.

E-64 blocks all cathepsin proteolytic activity in murine endometriotic lesions. Incubation with the broad cathepsin inhibitor, E-64, completely abolished cathepsin activity detected by zymography identifying the active bands as cysteine cathepsins (A). Cathepsin protein levels in lesions were compared to eutopic uterine tissue by Western blot (B, n = 6). Representative immunoblots are shown. Cathepsins L and K were significantly increased in endometriotic lesions as compared to eutopic uterine controls (C; n = 6; *P < .05).