Lysosomal Cysteine Cathepsins: Signaling Pathways in Apoptosis

Apoptosis is the major mechanism by which eukaryotic organisms eliminate potentially dangerous, superfluous and damaged cells. Initially, nuclei and mitochondria were found to be the key organelles involved in the process. However, recent data suggest that lysosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum also play important roles in the process. A number of different stimuli were found to directly or indirectly target the lysosomal membrane, thereby inducing lysosomal permeabilization and the release of cysteine cathepsins and the aspartic protease cathepsin D into the cytosol. Once in the cytosol, cathepsins can trigger cell death by different mechanisms. Here we discuss the different signaling pathways used by lysosomal proteases to trigger apoptosis and their potential role in physiological processes.