T. Nakase et al., Immunohistochemical detection of cathepsin D, K, and L in the process of endochondral ossification in the human, HISTOCHEM C, 114(1), 2000, pp. 21-27
Cathepsins D, K, and L were immunolocalized in tissue undergoing endochondr
al ossification in the human. Cathepsins D, K, and L were localized in oste
oclasts and chondroclasts attached to bone matrix and cartilage matrix, res
pectively. Cathepsins D and L were immunostained in chondrocytes. Immunoloc
alization 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 sp
ace, cathepsins D, K, and L were localized in multinucleated cells. Catheps
in D was diffusely detected in mononuclear bone marrow cells which were neg
ative fur cathepsins K and L. The present findings indicated that cathepsin
s 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.