title: Elastase regulates the synthesis of its inhibitor, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, and exaggerates the defect in homozygous PiZZ alpha 1 PI deficiency.
abstract: The net balance of neutrophil elastase, an enzyme that degrades many components of the extracellular matrix, and its inhibitor, alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1 PI), is thought to be a critical determinant in the development of destructive lung disease, especially in individuals with homozygous alpha 1 PI deficiency. Synthesis and secretion of alpha 1 PI has been recently demonstrated in cells of mononuclear phagocyte lineage, including peripheral blood monocytes and tissue macrophages. In this study we show that alpha 1 PI gene expression in human monocytes and bronchoalveolar macrophages is affected by a novel mechanism, whereby elastase directly regulates the synthesis of its inhibitor. In nanomolar concentrations, neutrophil or pancreatic elastase mediates a dose- and time-dependent increase in steady state levels of alpha 1 PI mRNA and in the rate of synthesis of alpha 1 PI in human monocytes and bronchoalveolar macrophages. Antisera to neutrophil elastase or pretreatment of elastase with the serine proteinase inhibitor diisopropylfluorophosphate abrogates the effect of elastase on alpha 1 PI expression. Elastase also stimulates the synthesis of alpha 1 PI in monocytes from homozygous PiZZ alpha 1 PI-deficient individuals, but has no effect on the rate of secretion; hence, the enzyme mediates an effect on alpha 1 PI that increases the intracellular accumulation of inhibitor and exaggerates the intrinsic defect in secretion of alpha 1 PI that characterizes the homozygous PiZZ alpha 1 PI deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Perlmutter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Travis
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Punsal
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase