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Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is one of the underlying mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases. Cathepsin cysteine proteases have a central role in ECM remodeling and have been implicated in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Cathepsins also show differential expression in various stages of atherosclerosis, and in vivo knockout studies revealed that deficiency of cathepsin K or S reduces atherosclerosis. Furthermore, cathepsins are involved in lipid metabolism. Cathepsins have the capability to degrade low‐density lipoprotein and reduce cholesterol efflux from macrophages, aggravating foam cell formation. Although expression studies also demonstrated differential expression of cathepsins in cardiovascular diseases like aneurysm formation, neoin‐tima formation, and neovascularization, in vivo studies to define the exact role of cathepsins in these processes are lacking …