ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY

Alpha-1-antitrypsin aerosolised augmentation abrogates neutrophil elastase-induced expression of cathepsin B and matrix metalloprotease 2 in vivo and in vitro

P Geraghty¹, M P Rogan¹, C M Greene¹, M L Brantly², S J O’Neill¹, C C Taggart¹, N G McElvaney¹

¹ Pulmonary Research Division, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
² Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Professor C C Taggart, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen’s University Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BP, UK; c.taggart{at}qub.ac.uk

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) activity is increased in lung diseases such as ₁-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency and pneumonia. It has recently been shown to induce expression of cathepsin B and matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP-2) in vitro and in a mouse model. It is postulated that increased cathepsin B and MMP-2 in acute and chronic lung diseases result from high levels of extracellular NE and that expression of these proteases could be inhibited by A1AT augmentation therapy.

Methods: Cathepsin and MMP activities were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with A1AT deficiency, pneumonia and control subjects. Macrophages were exposed to BAL fluid rich in free NE from patients with pneumonia following pretreatment with A1AT. MMP-2, cathepsin B, secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) and lactoferrin levels were determined in BAL fluid from A1AT-deficient patients before and after aerosolisation of A1AT.

Results: BAL fluid from both patients with pneumonia and those with A1AT deficiency containing free NE had increased cathepsin B and MMP-2 activities compared with BAL fluid from healthy volunteers. The addition of A1AT to BAL fluid from patients with pneumonia greatly reduced NE-induced cathepsin B and MMP-2 expression in macrophages in vitro. A1AT augmentation therapy to A1AT-deficient individuals also reduced cathepsin B and MMP-2 activity in BAL fluid in vivo. Furthermore, A1AT-deficient patients had higher levels of SLPI and lactoferrin after A1AT augmentation therapy.

Conclusion: These findings suggest a novel role for A1AT inhibition of NE-induced upregulation of MMP and cathepsin expression both in vitro and in vivo.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Airwaves

Wisia Wedzicha
Thorax 2008 63: 571. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Gooptu, B., Ekeowa, U. I., Lomas, D. A. (2009). Mechanisms of emphysema in {alpha}1-antitrypsin deficiency: molecular and cellular insights. Eur Respir J 34: 475-488 [Abstract] [Full Text]