Purified human granulocyte elastase cleaved purified human high molecular weight (HMW) kininogen into multiple low molecular weight fragments, and destroyed the clot-promoting activity of the HMW kininogen. Elastase digestion did not release kinin or destroy the bradykinin portion of the HMW kininogen molecule; kallikrein could release kinin from the elastase-induced low molecular weight digest...

J.A. Cumming, Department of Surgery and Urology, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH 4 2XH (UK) Dear Sir, Neutrophil elastase is released from polymorphonuc-lear leucocytes during phagocytosis, or when the cells are activated by other stimuli such as immune complexes and endotoxin [1]. Measurement of the released enzyme is thus a sensitive measure of neutrophil activity. In plasm...

The elastase produced by Pseudomonas aerughosa is probably responsible for the tissue destruction observed during pulmonary and corneal infections by this pathogen. We have synthesized a new substrate, AbzAla-Gly-Leu-Ala-Nba, for P. aeruginosa elastase. Cleavage of the peptide by elastase at pH 7.2 results in 6to 7-fold increase in fluorescence (h,,, 340 nm; X, 415 nm). A sensitive rate assay u...

Neutrophil elastase is a mediator common to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis and thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of these diseases. Previously, we found that inhaled hyaluronan blocked elastase-induced bronchoconstriction in allergic sheep through its control of tissue kallikrein. Here, we extend those studies by determining if inhaled hyaluronan c...

Elastin is a structural protein that provides resilience to biological tissues. We examined the contributions of elastin to the quasi-static tensile response of porcine medial collateral ligament through targeted disruption of the elastin network with pancreatic elastase. Elastase concentration and treatment time were varied to determine a dose response. Whereas elastin content decreased with i...

During phagocytosis, neutrophils release a variety of substances that include activators and inactivators of chemotactic factors. It is generally considered that these represent hydrolytic enzymes. Elastase and cathepsin G, major proteases released from lysosomal granules during phagocytosis, contain broad hydrolytic activity. This study examined granule elastase and cathepsin G for their role ...

Neutrophil elastase is the most significant predictor of bronchiectasis in early-life cystic fibrosis; however, the causal link between neutrophil elastase and airway damage is not well understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a crucial role in extracellular matrix modelling and are activated by neutrophil elastase. The aim of this study was to assess if MMP activation positively corre...

Nitric oxide (NO) reduces the severity of pulmonary vascular disease in rats as do elastase inhibitors. We therefore hypothesized that NO inhibits elastase by suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinases that trans-activate AML1B, a transcription factor for elastase. We used cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in which serum-treated elastin (STE) induces a > threefold increase in ela...

Rhoads, M. L., Fetterer, R. H., Hill, D. E., and Urban, J. F., Jr. 2000. Trichuris suis: A secretory chymotrypsin/elastase inhibitor with potential as an immunomodulator. Experimental Parasitology 95, 36– 44. A serine protease inhibitor, termed TsCEI, was purified from adultstage Trichuris suis by acid precipitation, affinity chromatography (elastase–agarose), and reverse-phase HPLC. The molecu...