Inhibition of neutrophil elastase-induced interleukin-8 gene expression by urinary trypsin inhibitor in human bronchial epithelial cells.
BACKGROUND
Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), a potential inhibitor for proteinases including neutrophil elastase (NE), trypsin, plasmin, cathepsin B and H has been used for the treatment of lung diseases with the absence of side effects in Japan.


METHODS
In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of UTI on both purified NE and NE activities present in bronchoalveolar fluids from patients with chronic bronchitis. We also investigated the inhibitory capacity of UTI with regard to NE-induced interleukin-8 gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cells by Northern analyses.


RESULTS
UTI inhibited NE activities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with chronic bronchitis and of the purified enzyme. In addition, UTI inhibited NE-induced interleukin-8 gene expression and protein secretion in a human bronchial epithelial cell line.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that UTI is applicable to patients with a variety inflammatory lung diseases in which NE plays a pivotal role.
Nakamura
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Abe
S
S
Shibata
Y
Y
Sata
M
M
Kato
S
S
Saito
H
H
Hino
T
T
Takahashi
H
H
Tomoike
H
H
D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine
D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase