Cathepsin H (CatH) is a lysosomal cysteine protease with unique aminopeptidase activity. It plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, including protein degradation, immune response, and cellular homeostasis . The mouse anti-human Cathepsin H antibody is a monoclonal antibody used in research to study the expression and function of CatH in human tissues and cells.
Cathepsin H belongs to the family of cysteine cathepsins, which are proteases mainly located in the endolysosomal compartment of cells . It has both aminopeptidase and endopeptidase activities, allowing it to cleave peptide bonds at the amino terminus of proteins and within the protein chain . This dual activity makes CatH a versatile enzyme involved in various cellular processes.
CatH is expressed in activated immune cells, including dendritic cells, macrophages, and microglia . It plays a critical role in the proteolytic maturation and stabilization of toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), which is necessary for the production of interferon-beta (IFN-β) . IFN-β has neuroprotective effects and is involved in the immune response to viral infections .
The mouse anti-human Cathepsin H antibody is widely used in research to study the expression and function of CatH in various human tissues and cells. It is used in immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting to detect CatH protein levels and localization . This antibody is also used to investigate the role of CatH in diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and immune-related conditions .
Dysregulated CatH activity has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders . In cancer, CatH is involved in tumor progression and metastasis by promoting the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and facilitating tumor cell invasion . In neurodegenerative disorders, CatH deficiency has been shown to impair TLR3-mediated activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), leading to reduced IFN-β production and increased neuronal cell death .