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Innate host defense functions of secretory leucoprotease inhibitor
Sinead Weldon1, Clifford C Taggart
1School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Abstract:
Chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis and emphysema are characterized by a protease burden, an infective process and a dominant proinflammatory profile. Secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) is a prominent innate immune protein of the respiratory tract, possessing serine protease inhibitor activity, antibacterial activity, and anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory activity. In the course of this review, the authors highlight the findings from a range of studies that illustrate the multiple functions of SLPI and its role in the resolution of the immune response.
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