Does human leukocyte elastase degrade intact skin elastin?

• Published in: The FEBS journal Vol. 279; no. 22; pp. 4191 - 4200
• Main Authors: Schmelzer, Christian E. H., Jung, Michael C., Wohlrab, Johannes, Neubert, Reinhard H. H., Heinz, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; aging; Cathepsin G - metabolism; Child; Elastin - metabolism; Elastin - ultrastructure; elastin isolation; elastolysis; Enzymes; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Elastase - metabolism; Leukocytes; matrix turnover; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Molecular biology; neutrophil elastase; Proteases; Proteins; Skin - metabolism; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

This study aimed to investigate the susceptibility of intact fibrillar human elastin to human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G. Elastin is a vital protein of the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, and provides exceptional properties including elasticity and tensile strength to many tissues and o...