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Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI)

 

 

 

 

   

Table of Contents:

1. Function

2. Description

3.Gene Structure

4. Role in Disease


 

 

 

Function - SLPI encodes a secreted inhibitor that protects epithelial tissues from serine proteases.  This inhibition contributes to the immune response by protecting epithelial surfaces from attack by endogenous proteolytic enzymes.  It is also thought to have anti-biotic activity and wound repair (O'neil et al 2006). SLPI is an anti-protease and anti-microbial molecule with a role in innate immune defence. Their role is likely to include regulation of protease activity, wound healing and tissue remodelling.

 

 

 


 

Description - SLPI is an acid-stable polypeptide of molecular weight 12,000, found in seminal fluid, bronchial mucus, and cervical mucus (O'neil et al 2006).


Gene Structure - SLPI consists of 2 exons with an intervening sequence in between the two spanning to approximately 2.6 kbp.  It is flanked by 11 basepair direct repeats; this suggests that the intron may be transposed by some type of event occurring (O'neil et al 2006).  SLPI is a cysteine-rich, 107-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide (Doumas et al 2005). 


 Role in diseases - SLPI's main function is to protect local tissue against the complications of inflammation (Doumas et al 2005). Many diseases, such as emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, are characterized by increased levels of neutrophil elastase. SLPI is one of the major defenses against the destruction of pulmonary tissues and epithelial tissues by neutrophil elastase. SLPI is considered to be the predominant elastase inhibitor in secretions. Several diseases, including those listed, are actually the result of SLPI and α1-antitrypsin defenses being overwhelmed by neutrophil elastase. It has been suggested that recombinant human SLPI be administered to treat symptoms of cystic fibrosis, genetic emphysema, pneumonia, and asthma.  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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