10779/rcsi.10784117.v1 Clifford C. Taggart Clifford C. Taggart Gregory J. Lowe Gregory J. Lowe Catherine M. Greene Catherine M. Greene Alan T. Mulgrew Alan T. Mulgrew Shane J. O'Neill Shane J. O'Neill Rodney L. Levine Rodney L. Levine Noel G. McElvaney Noel G. McElvaney Cathepsin B, L, and S cleave and inactivate secretory leucoprotease inhibitor. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 2019 Animals Binding Sites Blotting Western Bronchoalveolar Lavage Case-Control Studies Catalytic Domain Cathepsin B Cathepsin L Cathepsins Chromatography High Pressure Liquid Cysteine Endopeptidases Electrophoresis Polyacrylamide Gel Emphysema Enzyme Activation Enzyme Inhibitors Epithelium Female Humans Lung Male Middle Aged Protein Binding Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins Secretory Proteins Recombinant Proteins Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor Threonine Time Factors Tyrosine alpha 1-Antitrypsin Medicine 2019-11-22 16:28:37 Journal contribution https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/Cathepsin_B_L_and_S_cleave_and_inactivate_secretory_leucoprotease_inhibitor_/10784117 <p>A number of serine proteases, matrix metalloproteases, and cysteine proteases were evaluated for their ability to cleave and inactivate the antiprotease, secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI). None of the serine proteases or the matrix metalloproteases examined cleaved the SLPI protein. However, incubation with cathepsins B, L, and S resulted in the cleavage and inactivation of SLPI. All three cathepsins initially cleaved SLPI between residues Thr(67) and Tyr(68). The proteolytic cleavage of SLPI by all three cathepsins resulted in the loss of the active site of SLPI and the inactivation of SLPI anti-neutrophil elastase capacity. Cleavage and inactivation were catalytic with respect to the cathepsins, so that the majority of a 400-fold excess of SLPI was inactivated within 15 min by cathepsins L and S. Analysis of epithelial lining fluid samples from individuals with emphysema indicated the presence of cleaved SLPI in these samples whereas only intact SLPI was observed in control epithelial lining fluid samples. Active cathepsin L was shown to be present in emphysema epithelial lining fluid and inhibition of this protease prevented the cleavage of recombinant SLPI added to emphysema epithelial lining fluid. Taken together with previous data that demonstrates that cathepsin L inactivates alpha(1)-antitrypsin, these findings indicate the involvement of cathepsins in the diminution of the lung antiprotease screen possibly leading to lung destruction in emphysema.</p>