SLPI Antibody – Mouse Monoclonal

This gene encodes a secreted inhibitor which protects epithelial tissues from serine proteases. It is found in various secretions including seminal plasma, cervical mucus, and bronchial secretions, and has affinity for trypsin, leukocyte elastase, and cathepsin G. Its inhibitory effect contributes to the immune response by protecting epithelial surfaces from attack by endogenous proteolytic enzymes; the protein is also thought to have broad-spectrum anti-biotic activity. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Function: Acid-stable proteinase inhibitor with strong affinities for trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and cathepsin G. May prevent elastase-mediated damage to oral and possibly other mucosal tissues.

Subcellular location: Secreted.

Tissue specificity: Mucous fluids.

Miscellaneous: The pathologies of several chronic and acute diseases of the respiratory tract involve an imbalance between the proteases of cells involved in inflammatary responses and the inhibitors of these proteases. The inflammation-mediated release of neutrophil elastase in the lungs of patients whose levels of active alpha-1-antiprotease are compromised by genetic background, cigarette smoking, air pollutants, or a combination of all three can result in severe lung damage and a decreased lifespan. The relatively small size of this protein, its lack of glycosylation and its stability make this protein a candidate for use as a therapeutic agent in diseases mediated by leukocyte elastase-antielastase imbalances.

Sequence similarities: Contains 2 WAP domains.