The WAP protein Trappin-2/Elafin: a handyman in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses.
Trappin-2/Elafin is a potent serine protease inhibitor which prevents excessive damage under inflammatory status. This "alarm-antiprotease" is locally expressed by epithelial cells and immune cells such as macrophages and γδ T cells. It has also been proven to modulate a wide range of parameters that are critical for the inflammation process like modulating the NFκB pathway, cytokine secretion and cell recruitment. In addition, Trappin-2/Elafin was shown to possess anti-microbial properties against different classes of pathogens including viruses, fungi and bacteria. Studies also linked Trappin-2/Elafin to either susceptibility or protection against inflammatory disease and infections, even though the mechanisms remains poorly understood. This review will discuss some of the pleiotropic effects displayed by Trappin-2/Elafin, and the properties that could be used to prevent infection or to protect against inflammation.
Université de Lyon, 69622 Villeurbanne, France. thomas.verrier@pasteur.fr
Thomas
T
Verrier
Brigitte
B
Solhonne
Jean-Michel
JM
Sallenave
Ignacio
I
Garcia-Verdugo
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D053492:Elafin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
D053492:Elafin; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C506806:PI3 protein, human