Cysteine cathepsins are the major members of cathepsins. Exposed collagen is produced by demineralization during the process of dentin bonding. The degradation of the exposed collagen by endogenous proteases is one of the main factors that affect dentin bond durability. In addition to matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs), which play an important role in the decrease of dentin bonding durability, cysteine cathepsins are activated during the bonding process and then participate in the destruction of collagen in the hybrid layer. This study clarifies the interaction between cysteine cathepsins and MMPs and the influence ofcysteine cathepsinson dentin bonding and reviews the research progress of the application of cysteine cathepsins inhibitor in improving dentin bonding durability.
