Protease injury in airways disease.
In summary, proteases are present in the airway in inflammatory airways disease. These enzymes can damage the airway epithelium. As a consequence, airway function can be altered, and long-term changes in airway anatomy can result. Although the exact cellular and biochemical mechanisms that lead to these changes are incompletely described, it seems likely that they will play important roles in clinical airways disease. As such, these pathways may represent novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Rennard
S I
SI
University of Nebraska, Department of Internal Medicine, Omaha 68198-2465.
Rickard
K
K
Beckmann
J D
JD
Huerta
G
G
Koyama
S
S
Robbins
R A
RA
Romberger
D
D
Spurzem
J
J
Thompson
A B
AB
D000818:Animals; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000502:physiology
D010450:Endopeptidases; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase