Secreted cathepsin L generates endostatin from collagen XVIII

EMBO J. 2000 Mar 15;19(6):1187-94. doi: 10.1093/emboj/19.6.1187.

Abstract

Endostatin, an inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth, was identified originally in conditioned media of murine hemangioendothelioma (EOMA) cells. N-terminal amino acid sequencing demonstrated that it corresponds to a fragment of basement membrane collagen XVIII. Here we report that cathepsin L is secreted by EOMA cells and is responsible for the generation of endostatin with the predicted N-terminus, while metalloproteases produce larger fragments in a parallel processing pathway. Efficient endostatin generation requires a moderately acidic pH similar to the pericellular milieu of tumors. The secretion of cathepsin L by a tumor cell line of endothelial origin suggests that this cathepsin may play a role in angiogenesis. We propose that cleavage within collagen XVIII's protease-sensitive region evolved to regulate excessive proteolysis in conditions of induced angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cathepsin L
  • Cathepsins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Collagen / metabolism*
  • Collagen Type XVIII
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / metabolism
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Endopeptidases*
  • Endostatins
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / enzymology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Enzyme Precursors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Weight
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Collagen Type XVIII
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Endostatins
  • Enzyme Precursors
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Collagen
  • Cathepsins
  • Endopeptidases
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • CTSL protein, human
  • Cathepsin L
  • Ctsl protein, mouse
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases