Proteases in Health and Disease (Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease Book 7)

In view of rapidly growing research in the deregulation of proteases and their impact in human health and diseases, this book will highlight existing and emerging research in this exciting area. In-depth critical state-of-the-art reviews will be written by established investigators on proteases dysfunctions associated with pathogenesis of different diseases that are known to occur due to deregulation of proteolytic systems. Multidisciplinary approaches demonstrating biochemical and signal transduction mechanisms associated with deregulation of proteases leading to manifestation of the diseases will be discussed. The book highlights the roles of both intracellular and extracellular proteases in health and disease. Proteases form one of the largest and most diverse families of enzymes known. Once considered primarily as “enzymes of digestion,” it is now clear that proteases are involved in every aspect of cellular function. Members of the diverse families of proteases act to promote cellular proteolysis found in nature, and their deregulation may result in different pathophysiological conditions, such as tumor progression, vascular remodeling, atherosclerotic plaque progression, ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. Many micro-organisms require proteases for replication or use proteases as virulence factors, which have facilitated the development of protease-targeted therapies for a variety of parasitic diseases. Proteases in Health and Disease represents a comprehensive overview of the fascinating field of proteases by various renowned experts, and focuses on the recently elucidated functions of complex proteolytic systems in physiology and pathophysiology. Part A, Molecular and Biochemical Aspects of Proteases, illustrates some of the major proteases, such as calpains, matrix metalloproteases, fibrinolytic serine proteases, and aspartic proteases, which play a significant role in a variety of pathologies and may be a target for therapy either by their up regulation or down regulation. Part B, Involvement of Proteases in Diseases Processes, deals with the functional roles of the individual proteases in the progression of diseases such as cardiovascular and inflammatory lung disease, malaria, cholera, autism spectrum disorder, hepatitis, and ischemia-reperfusion injury induced cardiac diseases. With this multi-disciplinary scope, the book bridges the gap between fundamental research and biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, making this a thought-provoking reading for basic and applied scientists engaged in biomedical research. About the Editors: Dr. Sajal Chakraborti is a Senior Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India. His research covers the role of proteases in regulating pulmonary vascular tone under oxidant- and calcium-signaling phenomena. He has been engaged in teaching and research in biochemistry for the past 35 years. Dr. Naranjan Dhalla is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. His expertise includes the subcellular and molecular basis of heart function in health and disease. He has been engaged in multidisciplinary research and education for promoting the scientific basis of cardiology, as well as training of professional manpower for combating heart disease for over 40 years Front Matter....Pages i-xv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 An Overview of Endoplasmic Reticulum Calpain System....Pages 3-19 Mitochondrial Calpains: Who, What, Where, When and Why?....Pages 21-32 Role of Calpains in Calmodulin Regulated Systems....Pages 33-48 Exercise and Matrix Metalloproteases in Health and Disease: A Brief Overview....Pages 49-62 Regulation of Chondrocyte Matrix Metalloproteinase Gene Expression....Pages 63-77 Microbial Source of Fibrinolytic Protease and Its Biotechnological Potential....Pages 79-88 Aspartic Proteolytic Inhibitors Induce Cellular and Biochemical Alterations in Fungal Cells....Pages 89-119 Cysteine Proteases of Human Malaria Parasites....Pages 121-134 Proteases as Virulence Factors in Leishmania : Focus on Serine Proteases as Possible Therapeutic Targets....Pages 135-161 An Updated Inventory on Properties, Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Potential of Snake Venom Thrombin-Like Proteases....Pages 163-180 Macrocyclic Protease Inhibitors Constrained into a β-Strand Geometry....Pages 181-192 Front Matter....Pages 193-193 Regulation of MT1-MMP Activation and Its Relevance to Disease Processes....Pages 195-213 Role of Proteases During Intra-erythrocytic Developmental Cycle of Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum ....Pages 215-242 Proteases in Vibrio cholerae and Their Role in Pathogenesis....Pages 243-256 ADAMTS13: The von Willebrand Factor Cleaving Protease and Its Role in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura....Pages 257-276 Role of Proteases and Their Tissue Inhibitors in Pregnancy Outcome....Pages 277-287 Matrix Metalloproteinases in Bone Health and Disease....Pages 289-312 Escalated Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Osteoarthritis....Pages 313-325 Role of Proteases in Autism Spectrum Disorders....Pages 327-333 Role of Proteases in the Management of Hepatitis C Virus....Pages 335-360 Front Matter....Pages 193-193 Role of Proteases in Inflammatory Lung Diseases....Pages 361-385 Involvement of Proteolytic Enzymes in Cardiac Dysfunction Due to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury....Pages 387-399 Back Matter....Pages 401-403