Neutrophil elastase (NE) and NE inhibitors: canonical and noncanonical functions in lung chronic inflammatory diseases (cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Proteases and antiproteases have multiple important roles both in normal homeostasis and during inflammation. Antiprotease molecules may have developed in a parallel network, consisting of "alarm" and "systemic" inhibitors. Their primary function was thought until recently to mainly prevent the potential injurious effects of excess release of proteolytic enzymes, such as neutrophil elastase (NE), from inflammatory cells. However, recently, new potential roles have been ascribed to these antiproteases. We will review "canonical" and new "noncanonical" functions for these molecules, and more particularly, those pertaining to their role in innate and adaptive immunity (antibacterial activity and biasing of the adaptive immune response).
MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh University Medical School, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Ali
A
Roghanian
Jean-Michel
JM
Sallenave
D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology
D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase