Distribution of BrdU label-retaining cells in eccrine sweat glands and comparison of the percentage of BrdU-positive cells in eccrine sweat glands and in epidermis in rats

Cathepsin C in health and disease: from structural insights to therapeutic prospects

Cathepsin C (CTSC) is a lysosomal cysteine protease constitutively expressed at high levels in the lung, kidney, liver, and spleen. It plays a key role in the activation of serine proteases in cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells (granzymes A and B), mast cells (chymase and tryptase) and neutrophils (cathepsin G, neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3) underscoring its pivotal significance in immune and inflammatory defenses. Here, we comprehensively review the structural attributes, synthesis, and function of CTSC, with a focus on its variants implicated in the etiopathology of several syndromes associated with neutrophil serine proteases, including Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS), Haim-Munk Syndrome (HMS), and aggressive periodontitis (AP). These syndromes are characterized by palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, and early-onset periodontitis (severe gum disease) resulting in premature tooth loss. Due to the critical role played by CTSC in these and several other conditions it is being explored as a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The review also discusses in depth the gene variants of CTSC, and in particular their postulated association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), COVID-19, various cancers, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, sudden cardiac death (SCD), atherosclerotic vascular disease, and neuroinflammatory disease. Finally, the therapeutic potential of CTSC across a range of human diseases is discussed.

The oral microbiome of a family including Papillon-Lefèvre-syndrome patients and clinically healthy members

AIMS

The oral microbiota composition of patients diagnosed with Papillon-Lefèvre-syndrome and treated for several years were compared to those existing in the oral cavity of the clinically healthy family members and a cohort of patients having various stages of chronic periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A family with two sisters affected with severe periodontitis and with the typical skin symptoms of Papillon-Lefèvre-syndrome, and symptomless parents and third sibling were investigated. The Patients received periodontal treatment for several years and their oral microbiome was analysed by amplicon sequencing. Data were evaluated by microbial cluster analysis.

RESULTS

The microbiome of the patients with Papillon-Lefèvre-syndrome was predominated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and associated oral periodontopathogens. Although the clinically healthy family members showed no oral disorder, their microbiome resembled that of subjects having mild periodontitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Predominance of A. actinomycetemcomitans in the subgingival microbiome of patients with Papillon-Lefèvre-syndrome suggests that specific treatment strategies directed against this pathobiont may improve the oral health status of the affected individuals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the ethical permission has been issued by the Human Investigation Review Board of the University of Szeged, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre (Permission No. 63/2017-SZTE). September 19, 2017.  https://u-szeged.hu/klinikaikutatas/rkeb-altal-jovahagyott/rkeb-2017 .

Ceruloplasmin regulating fibrosis in orbital fibroblasts provides a novel therapeutic target for Graves' orbitopathy

PURPOSE

In diagnosing the pathogenesis of Graves' orbitopathy (GO), there is a growing interest in fibrosis generated by orbital fibroblasts (OFs); nevertheless, the involvement of ceruloplasmin (CP) in OFs remains unknown.

METHODS

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through bioinformatic analysis. OFs were isolated from orbital tissue and identified with immunofluorescent staining. The levels of DEGs were validated in GO tissue samples and TGF-β-challenged OFs, and CP was selected for the following laboratory investigations. CP overexpression or knockdown was achieved, and cell viability and fibrosis-associated proteins were investigated to assess the cell phenotype and function. Signaling pathways were subsequently investigated to explore the mechanism of CP function in OFs.

RESULTS

CP and cathepsin C (CTSC) are two overlapped DEGs in GSE58331 and GSE105149. OFs were isolated and identified through fibrotic biomarkers. CP and CTSC were downregulated in GO tissue samples and TGF-β-challenged OFs. CP overexpression or knockdown was achieved in OFs by transducing a CP overexpression vector or small interfering RNA against CP (si1-CP or si2-CP) and verified using a qRT-PCR. CP overexpression inhibited cell viability and reduced the levels of α-SMA, vimentin, fibronectin, and collagen I, whereas CP knockdown exerted opposite effects on OFs. CP overexpression inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad3, Erk1/2, p38, JNK, and AKT; conversely, CP knockdown exerted opposite effects on the phosphorylation of factors mentioned above.

CONCLUSION

CP was downregulated in GO and suppressed the expression of fibrosis-associated proteins in both GO and normal OFs. CP might serve as a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment regimens for GO.

Hederacolchiside A1 Suppresses Autophagy by Inhibiting Cathepsin C and Reduces the Growth of Colon Cancer

While autophagy degrades non-functional or unnecessary cellular components, producing materials for synthesizing cellular components, it can also provide energy for tumor development. Hederacolchiside A1 (HA1) derived from anemone raddeana has anticancer effects on several carcinomas by inducing apoptosis or exhibiting cytotoxicity, but the relationship with autophagy has not been studied. We investigated the association between HA1 and autophagy and evaluated its anticancer effect on colon cancer. HA1 induced accumulation of the autophagy-related markers LC3B and SQSTM1, with distinct vacuolar formation, unlike other autophagy inhibitors; the effects were similar to those of chloroquine. In addition, HA1 decreased the expression and proteolytic activity of lysosomal protein cathepsin C, reduced the growth of colon cancer cells in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. It also reduced the expression of Ki-67 and cathepsin C in mouse tissues and reduced the growth of spheroids and organoids composed of cancer cells. Taken together, these results imply that HA1 regulates cell growth and autophagy and has potential as a promising therapeutic agent in colon cancer.

A novel mutation in the cathepsin C (CTSC) gene in Iranian family with Papillon-Lefevre syndrome

Objectives

In this study, we analyzed the whole exomes of CTSC gene in a family with history of PLS.

Materials and methods

Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotype analysis was performed. The mutated protein sequence was used to find the best possible tertiary structure for homology modeling. The homology modeling of the novel mutation was then performed using the online Swiss‐Prot server. The results were also analyzed for to verify its validity.

Results

The analysis of CTSC gene elucidated a novel insertion GAC. The novel mutation was proved by analyzing 50 healthy control volunteers. Modeling of the novel found mutation in CTSC gene revealed structural defects that may have caused the functional abnormalities.

Conclusions

The structural analysis of the mutated protein model identifies changes in the stereo‐chemical and the energy level of the mutated protein. Since this protein play a role in the activation of granule serine proteases from cytotoxic T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, mast cells, such structural defects may lead to its malfunction causing dysfunctioning of immune defense mechanisms.

A novel large deletion combined with a nonsense mutation in a Chinese child with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Papillon-Lefèvre Syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disease (MIM245000). The syndrome is characterized by palmoplantar keratoderma and early onset periodontitis, caused by CTSC gene mutation. The mutation in CTSC previously reported is mainly point mutations. Large deletion in the CTSC gene has not yet been reported.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We collected 5 mL peripheral blood from a patient with PLS and her family members and used the direct sequencing method to perform CTSC bidirectional sequencing. We also used FISH to analyze the approximate locations of the ends of the missing fragment and then determined the fragment sequence through direct sequencing.

RESULTS

The result demonstrated that the patient have a 110 kb deletion (Chr11: 88032292: 88142997(NC_000011)) combined with a nonsense mutation (Gln182Ter) in this gene.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals a compound mutation consisting of a large deletion and a nonsense mutation, which provides a new insight in the mutation type of CTSC gene.

CTSC and Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome: detection of recurrent mutations in Hungarian patients, a review of published variants and database update

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS; OMIM 245000) is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and periodontitis. In 1997, the gene locus for PLS was mapped to 11q14-21, and in 1999, variants in the cathepsin C gene (CTSC) were identified as causing PLS. To date, a total of 75 different disease-causing mutations have been published for the CTSC gene. A summary of recurrent mutations identified in Hungarian patients and a review of published mutations is presented in this update. Comparison of clinical features in affected families with the same mutation strongly confirm that identical mutations of the CTSC gene can give rise to multiple different phenotypes, making genotype-phenotype correlations difficult. Variable expression of the phenotype associated with the same CTSC mutation may reflect the influence of other genetic and/or environmental factors. Most mutations are missense (53%), nonsense (23%), or frameshift (17%); however, in-frame deletions, one splicing variant, and one 5' untranslated region (UTR) mutation have also been reported. The majority of the mutations are located in exons 5-7, which encodes the heavy chain of the cathepsin C protein, suggesting that tetramerization is important for cathepsin C enzymatic activity. All the data reviewed here have been submitted to the CTSC base, a mutation registry for PLS at http://bioinf.uta.fi/CTSCbase/.

Cathepsins mediate tumor metastasis

Cathepsins are highly expressed in various human cancers, associated with tumor metastasis. It is superfamily, concluding A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, L, K, O, S, V, and W family members. As a group of lysosomal proteinases or endopeptidases, each member has a different function, playing different roles in distinct tumorigenic processes such as proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion. Cathepsins belong to a diverse number of enzyme subtypes, including cysteine proteases, serine proteases and aspartic proteases. The contribution of cathepsins to invasion in human cancers is well documented, although the precise mechanisms by which cathepsins exert their effects are still not clear. In the present review, the role of cathepsin family members in cancer is discussed.

Papillon-Lefevre syndrome: A case report of 2 affected siblings

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is a very rare syndrome of autosomal recessive inheritance characterized by palmar-plantar hyperkeratosis and early onset periodontitis, leading to premature loss of both primary and permanent dentitions. Various etiopathogenic factors are associated with the syndrome, but a recent report has suggested that the condition is linked to x mutations of the cathepsin C gene. The purpose of this report is to describe two cases of PLS in the same family who presented to the Department of Dentistry of Dr. R. P. Government Medical College at Tanda, Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) with a chief complaint of mobility and rapid loss of teeth. Hyperkeratosis of palms and soles was present. On intraoral examination, there was severe gingival inflammation, abscess formation, and deep periodontal pockets with mobility of teeth. Histopathological examination of the specimen taken from the thickened skin was reported to be consistent with PLS. The dental treatment comprised oral prophylaxis, scaling and root planning, antibiotic therapy, instructions on oral hygiene, restorations, extraction of hopelessly affected teeth, and prosthetic rehabilitation.