Cathepsin E (EC 3.4.23.34)--a review.

Cathepsin E belongs to the third class of enzymes - hydrolases, a subclass of peptide bond hydrolases and a sub-subclass of endopeptidases with aspartic catalytic sites. Cathepsin E is an endopeptidase with substrate specificity similar to that of cathepsin D. In a human organism, cathepsin E occurs in: erythrocytes, thymus, dendritic cells, epithelial M cells, microglia cells, Langerhans cells, lymphocytes, epithelium of gastrointestinal tract, urinary bladder, lungs, osteoclasts, spleen and lymphatic nodes.

Cathepsin A activity of a parietal thrombus of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

We evaluated the cathepsin A activity of a parietal thrombus of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. We compared this activity to that of a retracted blood clot homogenate. Cathepsin A of aneurysm parietal thrombus homogenate and blood clot homogenate showed the highest activity on Z-Phe-Ala.

Activity of coagulation and fibrinolytic system components in the vein thrombus.

Purpose: Behaviour of the vein thrombus is determined by the activity ratio of coagulation factors to factors of fibrinolytic system. The aim of the study is to evaluate activity of some coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in the vein thrombus.

Material And Methods: The activity of platelets aggregating factors, tissue factor, thrombin, antithrombins, antiheparin factors, plasminogen activators, plasmin (plasminogen) and antiplasmins of the vein thrombus homogenate was determined using coagulative, fibrinolytic and caseinolytic tests.

[Concentration and activity of cathepsin D in the blood plasma and serum of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Concentration and activity of cathepsin D are markedly higher in the blood plasma of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm than in the blood plasma of healthy subjects. The difference results from release of big amounts of procathepsin D and increased release of the active enzyme into circulating blood of patients with aortic aneurysm. Concentration and activity of cathepsin D in the blood serum of patients with aortic aneurysm are also higher than in the serum of healthy subjects.

[Antiheparin activity of the aneurysm wall and parietal thrombus and blood plasma of patients with aortic aneurysm].

Aneurysm dilatation is filled by parietal thrombus. Its magnitude is determined by the ratio of coagulative to anticoagulative activities above all. The aim of the study was to assess antiheparin activity, contents of heparin neutralizing chemical compounds and glycosaminoglycans with anticoagulative activity as well in the aneurysm wall, parietal thrombus filling the aneurysm dilatation and blood plasma/blood serum of patients with aortic aneurysm.