Levels of neutrophil elastase and cathepsin B activities, and cystatins in human sputum: relationship to inflammation
Author
Summary, in English
Sputum samples from 25 patients with bronchiectasis were assayed enzymatically for myeloperoxidase, neutrophil elastase and cathepsin B, and immunologically for cystatin A, cystatin B, cystatin C, cystatin S and kininogen. High myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase levels were found in those sputum samples that were assessed visually to be purulent. These samples were also found to contain high levels of cathepsin B activity and cystatin A, but low levels of cystatin S and of the most effective cathepsin B inhibitor, cystatin C. In contrast, sputum samples that were low in myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase activities had low levels of cathepsin B and cystatin A, but high cystatin C and S levels. It is concluded that cathepsin B activity in sputum is positively correlated with the degree of inflammation and neutrophil recruitment. Although this may be due in part to reduced amounts of cathepsin B inhibitors, particularly cystatin C, theoretical considerations suggest that factors other than the gross level of inhibitors must be involved in the control of cathepsin B activity.
Department/s
Publishing year
1990
Language
English
Pages
509-516
Publication/Series
Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation
Volume
50
Issue
5
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Informa Healthcare
Topic
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Medicinal Chemistry
Keywords
- agr2-macroglobulin
- bronchiectasis
- myeloperoxidase
- neutrophil degranulation
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1502-7686