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. 2022 Nov 9;23(22):13762. doi: 10.3390/ijms232213762

Table 1.

Involvement of CatK in different diseases classified by tissue.

Tissue Disease Involvement of CatK
Bone Pycnodysostosis (PD) A homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation (mutations that occur on different copies of genes and may completely “knock-out” gene function) in the CatK gene 236G > A, 121–1G > A and 926T > C, causes lower degradation of type I collagen due to lack of CatK activity [94,95].
Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO) In a combination of hyper-active osteoclasts and less functional osteoblasts (typically for estrogen-deficient women), CatK inhibitors can target the resorption process [54].
Osteoarthritis (OA) The up-regulated expression of the CatK collagenase activity could affect the cartilage matrix degradation in the late stadium of osteoarthritis [96].
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) CatK inhibition can play a significant role in cartilage degradation, retarding the bone loss process and joint destruction [97,98,99].
Gaucher Disease (GD) A multisystemic disorder, associated with progressive accumulation of Gaucher cells—large macrophages that store glucocerebroside. In GD patients elevated CatK levels are observed, which can lead to osteoporosis and lytic bone lesions [56].
Skin Psoriasis (PS) Psoriatic lesions (an increased copy number of variations in β-defensin gene locus) express an elevated level of CatK compared to healthy skin [65].
Scar formation (SF) In surgical scars compared to normal skin, is observed a proteolytic activity of CatK [57].
Lung Lung fibrosis (LF) CatK protects against matrix deposition in bleomycin-induced LF [100].
Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (PLAM) General expression of CatK activity was observed during PLAM [101,102].
Atherosclerosis (AS) Stress-induced—CatK expression in endothelial cells can lead to vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis [103].
Adipose tissue Obesity/overweight CatK expression can be detected in pre-adipocytes and be further up-regulated in the process of differentiation. The lack of CatK retards the adipogenesis [104,105].
Central nervous system Schizophrenia High levels of CatK in individuals suffering from schizophrenia, as a result of long-term treatment of the patients with neuroleptics [68,106].
Cerebral aneurysm (CA) Cystein cathepsins cause degradation of ECM in aneurysmal wall in the late state of CA. The administration of cysteine proteases inhibitors (CPIs) leads to prevention of CA progression [67].
Chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) The expression of CatK in CSH patients, may lead to CSH development [107].
Cancer Adenocarcinoma
Chondrosarcoma
Renal and extrarenal perivascular epithelioid tumors (PEComas)
Alveolar soft part sarcoma Basal cell carcinoma
Oral tongue squamous carcinoma cells
Breast and prostate cancer
Other epithelial-derived cell cancers
High levels of cathepsin K have been observed in metastatic tumors, which correlates with its primary function to degrade collagen, thus aiding tumor invasion and metastasis [82].