title: Elastase is the only human neutrophil granule protein that alone is responsible for in vitro killing of Borrelia burgdorferi.
abstract: Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes triggers oxygen-dependent and -independent mechanisms of potentially cidal outcome. Nevertheless, no factor or process has yet been singled out as being borreliacidal. We have studied the B. burgdorferi-killing ability of the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-chloride system and that of primary and secondary granule components in an in vitro assay. We found that neither secondary granule acid extracts nor the chlorinating system could kill these microorganisms, while primary granule extracts were effective. The Borrelia-killing factor was purified to homogeneity and demonstrated to be elastase. Its cidal activity was found to be independent of its proteolytic activity.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy. garcia@icgeb.trieste.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gusmani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guarnaccia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rottini
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D010100:Oxygen