Ochieng Josiah, Chaudhuri Gautam
Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.
J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2010 Feb;21(1 Suppl):51-70. doi: 10.1353/hpu.0.0257.
Cystatins, the classical inhibitors of C1 cysteine proteinases, have been extensively studied and reviewed in the literature. Over the last 20 years, however, proteins containing cystatin domains but lacking protease inhibitory activities have been identified, and most likely more will be described in the near future. These proteins together with family 1, 2, and 3 cystatins constitute the cystatin superfamily. Mounting evidence points to the new roles that some members of the superfamily have acquired over the course of their evolution. This review is focused on the roles of cystatins in: 1) tumorigenesis, 2) stabilization of matrix metalloproteinases, 3) glomerular filtration rate, 4) immunomodulation, and 5) neurodegenerative diseases. It is the goal of this review to get as many investigators as possible to take a second look at the cystatin superfamily regarding their potential involvement in serious human ailments.
胱抑素是C1半胱氨酸蛋白酶的经典抑制剂，在文献中已得到广泛研究和综述。然而，在过去20年里，已鉴定出含有胱抑素结构域但缺乏蛋白酶抑制活性的蛋白质，而且在不久的将来很可能会描述更多此类蛋白质。这些蛋白质与1、2和3型胱抑素家族一起构成了胱抑素超家族。越来越多的证据表明，该超家族的一些成员在进化过程中获得了新的作用。本综述重点关注胱抑素在以下方面的作用：1）肿瘤发生，2）基质金属蛋白酶的稳定，3）肾小球滤过率，4）免疫调节，以及5）神经退行性疾病。本综述的目的是让尽可能多的研究人员重新审视胱抑素超家族在严重人类疾病中的潜在作用。
