Evaluation of proteolytic enzymes in Iraqi patients with colorectal cancer

Received: 14-Jul-2023, Manuscript No. OAR-23-110295; Accepted: 01-Sep-2023, Pre QC No. OAR-23-110295 (PQ); Editor assigned: 17-Jul-2023, Pre QC No. OAR-23-110295 (PQ); Reviewed: 02-Aug-2023, QC No. OAR-23-110295 (Q); Revised: 31-Aug-2023, Manuscript No. OAR-23-110295 (R); Published: 02-Sep-2023

Introduction

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is divided into two stages colon & rectal cancer. It is the 3rd most common kind of cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death. CRC is caused by the unusual development of epithelial cells that form the lining of the colon or rectum; certain tiny developments (known as polyps) have the potential to evolve into malignant tumors, while the majority of them are benign. It is believed that two-thirds of pre-malignant polyps in the colon and rectum increase the risk of CRC [1].

Protolysis is among the most crucial biological functions. Proteases [2]. A class of enzymes, have been connected to proteolytic activity. These enzymes are present almost everywhere and are crucial to many biological processes. Proteases, however, are also developed in cancer progression, according to a recent study [3]. The release of several proteases has been demonstrated to be positively correlated with tumor aggression [4]. Normal cells' proteases play a crucial role in carrying out crucial biological activities, however, altered tumor cells are the ones that do the most damage. Prognosis is also quite challenging since tumor cells secrete some particular proteases. Proteases aren't just expressed by cancerous cells, though [5]. Several times, tumor cells cause the neighboring, non-neoplastic cells to produce proteolytic enzymes, repurposing their function to support tumor growth [6].

Cysteine proteases are a subclass of proteolytic enzymes distinguished by an active site cysteine residue. Cathepsins B, L, H, and S can be found in the lysosome or the cytoplasm, and in pathological circumstances, some cell types produce them [7]. Cysteine proteases have a role in both broad processes like the breakdown of intracellular proteins and more specific ones like the selective activation of signaling molecules like interleukin, enkephalin, and protein kinase C or the destruction of extracellular proteins like bone resorption and macrophage activity. Numerous studies have linked the production of Intracellular cysteine proteases to the development of tumors [8].

Serine proteases are a particular class of proteases that are tightly connected to cell division and proliferation. They are typically located in the form of zymogens, and their activation by selective and limited proteolysis modifies the activity of the enzyme [9]. Additionally, physiological inhibitors that control cellular behavior are present. The physiological functions of the cell depend on the normal management of serine protease activities, and improper control of these activities can cause pathological illnesses. Serine proteases of the urokinase-type have been thoroughly scrutinized for their role in tumor invasion and metastasis [10]. Aspartic proteases are enzymes having two sections divided via a cleft that contains the catalytic site (two aspartate residues). Cathepsin-D (Cath-D) is a widely distributed aspartic endo-protease. It is present in lysosomes. Cath-D has been demonstrated to stimulate the pre-lysosomal recognition of specialized cells, as well as Its act as a main protein-degrading enzyme. Cathepsin D, on the other hand, has been widely researched over the last three decades, particularly in terms of its function in tumor formation and potential as a standalone tumor parameter. This research also changed the concept of Cath-D's function and supported the identification of novel Cath-D functionalities [11].

The present study aims to evaluate the photolytic enzymes in colorectal cancer.

Materials and Methods

Patients

About (70) newly diagnosed patients with colorectal cancer were enrolled in the current study. All patients were diagnosed by a physician in Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital in a period from September 2022-January 2023. The age range of patients was (20 years - 60 years).

Patients were divided into two groups according to their ages: Group A : (n=32) with age range (20 years - 40 years); Group B: (n=38) with age range (41 years - 60 years).

For comparison, seventy healthy subjects were inserted in the present study as the control group, also divided according to their ages into two groups (20-40) (n=20) and (41-60years) (n=10).

Assessment of serum proteolytic enzymes

Five milliliters of blood were withdrawn from each control and patient transferred into a gel tube, allows 15 minutes to clot, and centrifuged after that at 3000 rpm, the serum was then isolated for 10 minutes' centrifugation used for measurements of serum serine, aspartic, and cysteine protease enzymes levels which were assessed in blood serum by using ELISA technique and the supplier was Abcam Co., UK (Figure 1).

Figure 1: A. Standard curve for serine protease, B. Standard curve for cysteine protease, C. Standard curve for aspart c protease

Results

The current study shows that there was a significant vari ation in serum serine protease levels in (the 20-40 years) group when compares to the patient and control group (395.5 ng/ml vs. 71.61 ng/ml, p>0.0001), as shown in (Figure 2).

Figure 2: The mean of serine protease levels in (20 years-40 years) group

There was a significant variation in serum serine protease levels in (the 41-60 years) group when comparing the patient and control group (469.4 ng/ml vs. 106.3 ng/ml, p>0.0001), as shown in (Figure 3).

Figure 3: The mean of serine protease levels in (41 years-60 years) group

The current study shows that there was a significant va riation in serum cysteine protease levels in (20-40 years) group when comparing the patient and control group (1193 ng/ml vs. 158.3 ng/ml, p>0.0001), as shown in (Figure 4).

Figure 4: The mean of cysteine protease levels in (20 years-40 years) group

There was a significant variation in serum cysteine protease levels in (the 41-60 years) group when comparing the patient and control group (1228 ng/ml vs. 246.0 ng/ml, p>0.0003), as shown in (Figure 5).

Figure 5: The mean of cysteine protease levels in (41 years-60 years) group

The current study shows that there was a significant variation in serum aspartic protease levels in (the 20-40 years) group when compares between the patient and control group (3.868 ng/ml vs. 0.4623 ng/ml, p>0.0199), as shown in (Figure 6).

Figure 6: The mean of aspart c protease levels in (20 years-40 years) group

There was a significant variation in serum aspartic protease levels in (the 41-60 years ) group when compares the patient and control group (4.163 ng/ml vs. 0.1859 ng/ml, p>0.0001), as shown in (Figure 7).

Figure 7: The mean of aspart c protease levels in (41 years-60 years) group

Discussion

The current study was designed to evaluate the serum levels of proteolytic enzymes in newly diagnosed patients with colorectal cancer patients.

Serine protease levels were significantly increased in colorectal cancer patients when compared to a control group. Xie Y and his colleagues (2016) It has been discovered that serine protease has a role in colorectal carcinogenesis by promoting proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, colorectal tumors expressing serine protease have a worse outcome and survival rate [12]. The biological basis for serine protease drives cancer development is becoming clear. It appears to function in both directions via a 'protease-antiprotease-system' and by activating additional protease cascades [13]. Cancer cell instance for the cell membrane may be aided directly by serine protease breakdown of type I collagen [14].

The present study also showed there was a considerable rise in cysteine protease in patients when compared to healthy subjects. A recent study suggested there was a link between cysteine protease and cancer, demonstrating that the protease is secreted from human cancer tissue samples and is present in the serum of individuals with neoplasm lesions [15]. According to another study, cystine protease has been demonstrated to play a role in the remodeling and dissolution of fibrous tissue and basement wall during the growth, invasion, and metastasis of tumors, via the invasion of secreted lysosomes [16, 17]. Increased cysteine protease B and L levels have been linked to longer disease-free and Life expectancy rates and may thus be used as prognostic indicators for people who have cancer [18]. According to Patil et al. (2021), oral squamous cell carcinoma development and invasion were highly linked with cystine protease expression [19]. Chronic atrophic gastritis with dysplasia is more typically associated with cystine protease overexpression. Additionally, the role of cystine protease in the control of angiogenesis shows another unique function in the development of tumors [20].

In the current study, aspartic protease levels significantly increase in colorectal cancer when compared to control in all age groups. Human epithelial breast cancer cells have been shown to overexpress and produce large amounts of the aspartic protease cathepsin D (cath-D), a hallmark of bad fate in breast cancer, according to recent research [21, 22]. Cath-D promotes angiogenesis, metastasis, fibroblast outgrowth, and cancer cell proliferation [23]. The first evidence of cath-D's direct involvement in cancer metastasis came from rat tumor cells, whose in vivo metastatic capacity was boosted by transfectioninduced cath-D overexpression [24].

In conclusion, Protolytic enzymes significantly increase in newly diagnosed colorectal cancer so according to the present study they have a diagnostic importance.

Conclusion

Protolytic enzymes significantly increase in newly diagnosed colorectal cancer so according to the present study they have a diagnostic importance.

References

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