Weight loss reduces adipose tissue cathepsin S and its circulating levels in morbidly obese women.

Context: Human adipose tissue produces several adipokines, including the newly identified protein cathepsin S (CTSS), a cysteine protease involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Obesity is characterized by high levels of CTSS in the circulation and in sc white adipose tissue (scWAT).

Objective: We investigated the effect of surgery-induced weight loss on circulating CTSS and its protein expression in scWAT.