title: SLPI and elafin: multifunctional antiproteases of the WFDC family.
abstract: SLPI (secretory leucoprotease inhibitor) and elafin represent the archetypal members of the WFDC [WAP (whey acidic protein) four disulfide core] family of proteins, and were originally characterized as protease inhibitors but have since been shown to possess a wider repertoire of activities. These functions include antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, suggesting that these proteins may play key roles in the innate immune response, and indicate the potential to develop some of these proteins as novel therapeutics. Susceptibility to host and bacterial protease cleavage may, however, limit the efficacy of recombinant protein therapies in diseases with a high protease burden such as CF (cystic fibrosis) lung disease. To overcome this problem, further refinement of the native proteins will be required to provide effective treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infection and Immunity, Health Sciences Building, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Sinéad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weldon
authors.forename: Clifford C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Taggart
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D053492:Elafin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053492:Elafin; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C506814:SLPI protein, human; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor