Elafin (elastase‐specific inhibitor) has anti‐microbial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative respiratory pathogens

FEBS Letters

Sallenave, J.-M.²  Haslett, C.²  Simpson, A.J.²  Govan, J.R.W.¹  Maxwell, A.I.¹ 

[1] Cystic Fibrosis Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK;Rayne Laboratory, Respiratory Medicine Unit, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK

关键词: Elafin;    Human neutrophil elastase;    Anti-microbial activity;    Pseudomonas aeruginosa;    Staphylococcus aureus;    HNE;    human neutrophil elastase;    α1-PI;    α1-protease inhibitor;    SLPI;    secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor;    HSA;    human serum albumin;    TSB;    tryptone soya broth;    LPS;    lipopolysaccharide;    CF;    cystic fibrosis;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(99)00670-5

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Elafin (elastase-specific inhibitor) is a low molecular weight inhibitor of neutrophil elastase which is secreted in the lung. Using synthetic peptides corresponding to full-length elafin (H₂N-¹AVT.....⁹⁵Q-OH), the NH₂-terminal domain (H₂N-¹AVT.....⁵⁰K-OH) and the COOH-terminal domain (H₂N-⁵¹PGS.....⁹⁵Q-OH), we demonstrate that elafin's anti-elastase activity resides exclusively in the COOH-terminus. Several characteristics of elafin suggest potential anti-microbial activity. The anti-microbial activity of elafin, and of its two structural domains, was tested against the respiratory pathogensPseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Elafin killed both bacteria efficiently, with 93% killing of P. aeruginosa by 2.5 μM elafin and 48% killing of S. aureus by 25 μM elafin. For both organisms, full-length elafin was required to optimise bacterial killing. These findings represent the first demonstration of co-existent anti-proteolytic and anti-microbial functions for elafin.

【 授权许可】

Unknown