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Inhibition of neutrophil elastase by recombinant human proteinase inhibitor 9

J R Dahlen1, D C Foster, W Kisiel

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.

Insights

Proteinase inhibitor PI9 (PI9) potently inhibits human neutrophil elastase in vitro. This serpin utilizes a novel reactive site residue, expanding its inhibitory capabilities against serine proteinases.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Proteinase inhibitor PI9 (PI9) is an intracellular serpin.
  • PI9 is known to inhibit granzyme B.
  • Its inhibitory mechanism involves specific reactive site residues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the inhibition of human neutrophil elastase by recombinant human PI9.
  • To characterize the inhibitory kinetics and mechanism.

Main Methods:

  • Recombinant human PI9 production.
  • In vitro inhibition assays with human neutrophil elastase.
  • Determination of inhibition constants (Ki') and association rate constants.
  • SDS-PAGE and amino-terminal sequencing to identify the reactive site.

Main Results:

  • PI9 is a potent inhibitor of human neutrophil elastase with a Ki' of 221 pM.
  • The second-order association rate constant was 1.5 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1).
  • SDS-resistant complex formation and sequencing confirmed Cys(342) as the P(1) inhibitory residue.

Conclusions:

  • Human PI9 effectively inhibits human neutrophil elastase.
  • PI9 demonstrates flexibility in utilizing different reactive site residues (e.g., Glu(340) for granzyme B, Cys(342) for elastase).
  • This expands the inhibitory spectrum of PI9 and related serpins.

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