Cystatin-Hv
Recombinant cystatin / cysteine protease inhibitor from Haementeria vizottoi leech — Linhares 2021 potent CatL inhibitor (Ki 7.9 nM).
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- Recombinant cystatin / cysteine protease inhibitor from Haementeria vizottoi leech — Linhares 2021 potent CatL inhibitor (Ki 7.9 nM).
- Evidence level
- In vitro
- Drug vs leech
- Recombinant (genetically expressed)
Clinical translation limit
Cystatin-Hv's in vitro CatL inhibition does NOT establish clinical efficacy in cancer or cardiovascular disease where CatL is implicated. No FDA-approved derivative exists; Haementeria vizottoi is not the FDA-cleared K040187 medicinal leech species.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Proteinase Inhibitor
- Evidence tier
- Preclinical
- Molecular weight
- 11,500 Da
- Source species
- Haementeria vizottoi
- Discovered
- 2021 · Linhares DC et al.
Biological Targets
- → cathepsin L (lysosomal cysteine protease; Ki 7.9 nM)
Key Citations
- Linhares DC et al. (2021), Toxins (Basel) · PMID 34941695
External Resources
Related Proteinase Inhibitor Compounds
Hirustasin
Serine proteinase inhibitor targeting tissue kallikrein — anti-inflammatory pathway.
Eglin C
Potent inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G — anti-inflammatory protein widely used as research tool.
Bdellin B3
Kazal-type proteinase inhibitor targeting trypsin and plasmin — modulates inflammatory cascade.
LDTI (Leech-Derived Tryptase Inhibitor)
Selective inhibitor of human mast cell tryptase — anti-inflammatory pathway.