Recombinant Human Cathepsin S Protein (RP00181)

Cathepsin S (CTSS), one of the lysosomal proteinases, has many important physiological functions in the nervous system, especially in process of extracellular matrix degradation and endocellular antigen presentation. Cathepsin S is expressed in the lysosome of antigen presenting cells, primarily dendritic cells, B-cells and macrophages. Cathepsin S is most well known for its critical function in the proteolytic digestion of the invariant chain chaperone molecules, thus controlling antigen presentation to CD4+ T-cells by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules or to NK1.1+ T-cells via CD1 molecules. Cathepsin S also appears to participate in direct processing of exogenous antigens for presentation by MHC class II to CD4+ T-cells, or in cross-presentation by MHC class I molecules to CD8+ T-cells. In addition, it has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and degenerative disorders associated with the cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system.