title: Alpha-1 antitrypsin: a potent anti-inflammatory and potential novel therapeutic agent.
abstract: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) has long been thought of as an important anti-protease in the lung where it is known to decrease the destructive effects of major proteases such as neutrophil elastase. In recent years, the perception of this protein in this simple one dimensional capacity as an anti-protease has evolved and it is now recognised that AAT has significant anti-inflammatory properties affecting a wide range of inflammatory cells, leading to its potential therapeutic use in a number of important diseases. This present review aims to discuss the described anti-inflammatory actions of AAT in modulating key immune cell functions, delineate known signalling pathways and specifically to identify the models of disease in which AAT has been shown to be effective as a therapy.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Research Division, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.forename: Killian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Noel G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: McElvaney
authors.forename: Emer P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Reeves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin