What is the Pathological Significance of Cysteine Proteases?
In pathology, dysregulated activity of cysteine proteases can contribute to disease progression. For example, the overexpression of cathepsins in cancer can facilitate tumor invasion and metastasis by degrading the extracellular matrix. In neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, the inappropriate activity of these enzymes can lead to the breakdown of neural tissues. Thus, cysteine proteases are not only markers of disease but also potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
