CTSL adenovirus

The cathepsin L (CTSL) gene encodes a lysosomal cysteine protease that plays a critical role in intracellular protein degradation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and various physiological processes, including immune responses, angiogenesis, and tissue homeostasis. CTSL is synthesized as an inactive zymogen and becomes activated following cleavage in acidic environments, such as lysosomes. Its dysregulation is associated with a variety of pathological conditions, including cancer metastasis, viral infection, and inflammatory diseases. For example, CTSL facilitates the cellular entry of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 by cleaving viral spike proteins. Furthermore, its overexpression in tumors can promote tumor invasion and metastasis, making it a potential therapeutic target.

The CTSL adenovirus is a recombinant viral vector designed to deliver the CTSL gene to target cells for research or therapeutic purposes. Adenoviruses are a preferred choice for gene delivery due to their high transduction efficiency, broad tropism, and ability to infect both dividing and non-dividing cells. CTSL adenoviruses typically utilize a replication-defective adenoviral backbone (such as Ad5) to ensure safety, and the CTSL gene is inserted under the control of a strong promoter to drive its stable expression. This vector is widely used in in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the biological effects of CTSL, such as its impact on tumor progression, viral infectivity, or lysosomal function. In the therapeutic field, CTSL adenovirus can be explored for its application in cancer treatment by modulating tumor microenvironment degradation or lysosomal storage diseases.