Cathepsin B and its interacting proteins, bikunin and TSRC1, correlate with TNF-induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells OV-90

Increasing evidence suggests that lysosomal cysteine proteases cathepsins contribute to the progression of cell Apoptosis. Here we found that Apoptosis of ovarian Cancer cells OV-90 triggered by TNF was Cathepsin B-depended. Two Cathepsin B binding proteins, bikunin and TSRC1, were identified by yeast two-hybrid method and the interactions were confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of bikunin could suppress TNF-induced Apoptosis of OV-90 cells, and TSRC1 overexpression had an opposite effect on Apoptosis. The presented results suggest that Cathepsin B and its interacting proteins, bikunin and TSRC1, are involved in the apoptotic pathway of ovarian Cancer cells.