Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Mar;25(3):362-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03743.x.
Cathepsin K (CTSK), a cysteine protease with strong collagenolytic and elastolytic properties involved in extracellular matrix turnover, may be produced by neoplastic cells as well as stromal macrophages and fibroblasts. Its expression is suggested as associated with increased invasive and metastatic potential.
The aim of this study is to examine stromal expression of cathepsin K in skin tumors.
A series of 13 normal skin and 109 skin tumours, including 51 benign and 58 malignant epidermal tumours were tested for CTSK and Ki-67 expression by immunohistochemical analysis.
Stromal CTSK expression and the tumoral Ki-67 labelling index were significantly higher in invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than in other epidermal tumours.
Cathepsin K-positive stromal fibroblasts may play a crucial role in SCC progression by promoting extracellular matrix degradation, thereby facilitating SCC growth and invasion into surrounding tissue and vasculature. CTSK inhibitors may be a potential novel therapeutic option to decrease SCC progression.
组织蛋白酶 K（CTSK）是一种半胱氨酸蛋白酶，具有很强的胶原酶和弹性蛋白酶活性，参与细胞外基质的更新，可能由肿瘤细胞以及基质巨噬细胞和成纤维细胞产生。其表达与侵袭性和转移性潜能的增加有关。
本研究旨在研究皮肤肿瘤中基质组织蛋白酶 K 的表达。
通过免疫组织化学分析，对 13 例正常皮肤和 109 例皮肤肿瘤（包括 51 例良性和 58 例恶性表皮肿瘤）进行 CTSK 和 Ki-67 表达检测。
侵袭性鳞状细胞癌（SCC）中基质 CTSK 表达和肿瘤 Ki-67 标记指数显著高于其他表皮肿瘤。
阳性基质成纤维细胞可能通过促进细胞外基质降解，从而促进 SCC 生长和侵袭周围组织和脉管系统，在 SCC 进展中发挥关键作用。CTSK 抑制剂可能是一种潜在的新型治疗选择，可降低 SCC 的进展。
