Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.37 (neutrophil elastase)
 4,078 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The neutrophil-activating peptide-2 (NAP-2) is a cytokine that is generated by the proteolytic cleavage of a precursor protein and that causes neutrophil degranulation and chemotaxis. NAP-2 precursors are produced in platelets and are normally found in the circulation. We showed that NAP-2 is generated by the action of neutrophil cathepsin G on two of the precursors, the connective tissue-activating peptide-III (CTAP-III) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG). However, neutrophil elastase degraded the precursors to inactive peptides. The specific binding of cathepsin G to platelets caused the platelets to secrete NAP-2, and cathepsin G bound to the platelets could still generate NAP-2 from its precursor proteins. In addition, activated neutrophils in the presence of platelets generated NAP-2 from its precursors and caused platelets to secrete NAP-2. These studies demonstrate a unique mechanism for the activation of neutrophils through the interaction of neutrophils, platelets, and NAP-2 precursors that are released either by activated platelets or are present in circulation. It is therefore possible that NAP-2 may be generated at sites where aggregations of neutrophils and platelets occur in vessels such as pulmonary capillaries in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome and coronary arteries in patients with evolving myocardial infarctions.
 ...
PMID:Generation of the neutrophil-activating peptide-2 by cathepsin G and cathepsin G-treated human platelets. 138 11

There is an abundance of antimicrobial peptides in cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs. Despite this, individuals with CF are susceptible to microbial colonization and infection. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial response within the CF lung, focusing on the human cathelicidin LL-37. We demonstrate the presence of the LL-37 precursor, human cathelicidin precursor protein designated 18-kDa cationic antimicrobial protein, in the CF lung along with evidence that it is processed to active LL-37 by proteinase-3. We demonstrate that despite supranormal levels of LL-37, the lung fluid from CF patients exhibits no demonstrable antimicrobial activity. Furthermore Pseudomonas killing by physiological concentrations of exogenous LL-37 is inhibited by CF bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid due to proteolytic degradation of LL-37 by neutrophil elastase and cathepsin D. The endogenous LL-37 in CF BAL fluid is protected from this proteolysis by interactions with glycosaminoglycans, but while this protects LL-37 from proteolysis it results in inactivation of LL-37 antimicrobial activity. By digesting glycosaminoglycans in CF BAL fluid, endogenous LL-37 is liberated and the antimicrobial properties of CF BAL fluid restored. High sodium concentrations also liberate LL-37 in CF BAL fluid in vitro. This is also seen in vivo in CF sputum where LL-37 is complexed to glycosaminoglycans but is liberated following nebulized hypertonic saline resulting in increased antimicrobial effect. These data suggest glycosaminoglycan-LL-37 complexes to be potential therapeutic targets. Factors that disrupt glycosaminoglycan-LL-37 aggregates promote the antimicrobial effects of LL-37 with the caveat that concomitant administration of antiproteases may be needed to protect the now liberated LL-37 from proteolytic cleavage.
 ...
PMID:LL-37 complexation with glycosaminoglycans in cystic fibrosis lungs inhibits antimicrobial activity, which can be restored by hypertonic saline. 1954 65