Human Cathepsin D

Abstract
Our interest in cathepsin D arose from the observation that agents such as vitamin A alcohol and complement-sufficient antiserum, which caused a dramatic catabolism of cartilage matrix in a culture system, simultaneously caused a sharp increase in the synthesis and secretion of cathepsin D by cells in the tissue. Clearly this was consistent with the possibility that the acid proteinase was responsible for the degradation of the cartilage matrix, and if this were true for the organ culture system, it might apply to cartilage degradation in arthritis, too.