Abstract.
Cathepsins D, K, and L were immunolocalized in tissue undergoing endochondral ossification in the human. Cathepsins D, K, and L were localized in osteoclasts and chondroclasts attached to bone matrix and cartilage matrix, respectively. Cathepsins D and L were immunostained in chondrocytes. Immunolocalization of cathepsin D was limited to hypertrophic chondrocytes adjacent to the osteochondral junction. In contrast, cathepsin L was immunolocalized in both proliferating and hypertrophic chondrocytes. In the bone marrow space, cathepsins D, K, and L were localized in multinucleated cells. Cathepsin D was diffusely detected in mononuclear bone marrow cells which were negative for cathepsins K and L. The present findings indicated that cathepsins K, D, and L were associated with the process of endochondral ossification in the human, and suggested that these cathepsins share roles in bone and cartilage turnover in the human.
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Nakase, T., Kaneko, M., Tomita, T. et al. Immunohistochemical detection of cathepsin D, K, and L in the process of endochondral ossification in the human. Histochem Cell Biol 114, 21–27 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004180000162
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004180000162