The Role of Lysosomal Proteases in Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Lysosomal proteases are classified into three classes according to their active sites, cysteine cathepsins (which include cathepsins B, H, V, W, K, L, X, C, S, F and O), serine cathepsins (which include cathepsins G and A), and aspartic cathepsins (which include their two members cathepsins D and E). Most lysosomal proteases are involved in a wide range of physiological processes like the breakdown of intracellular proteins, energy metabolism and immune responses among many other functions. Lysosomal proteases are also implicated in different diseases including cancer metastasis, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammation.

The aim of this Special Issue is to develop the knowledge of lysosomal proteases and explore how they play an important role in physiological processes and diseases. Authors are invited to submit original research and review articles that address these topics.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Impact of lysosomal proteases in cancer;
• Impact of lysosomal proteases in viral diseases;
• Impact of lysosomal proteases in neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation;
• Effect of lysosomal protease inhibitors on tumor progression;
• Effect of lysosomal proteases on radiation therapy treatment;
• Induction of apoptosis of lysosomal cathepsin inhibitors in cancer cells;
• Molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of lysosomal proteases;
• Role of lysosomal proteases on the cytotoxicity of fungal and bacterial toxins;
• Role of lysosomal proteases in aging.

Prof. Dr. Christian Studenik
Guest Editor

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