ELASTINASE Meaning and
Definition
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Elastinase is an enzymatic protein that belongs to the class of proteases known as serine proteases. It is specifically designed to degrade or break down elastin, which is the main component of elastic fibers in connective tissues. Elastin is responsible for providing elasticity, resilience, and the ability to recoil to various tissues in the body, including skin, blood vessels, lungs, and ligaments.
Elastinase plays a crucial role in the remodeling and turnover of elastin, which occurs during normal physiological processes such as tissue repair, development, and growth. However, excessive elastin degradation can lead to pathological conditions, including skin aging, arterial wall damage, and the development of some lung diseases.
The enzyme elastinase effectively breaks down elastin by cleaving peptide bonds within the elastin molecule. It acts by hydrolyzing proteins and can catalyze the degradation of both soluble and insoluble elastin fibers. Elastinase is secreted by various cell types, including neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblasts, and certain bacteria. Its activity is regulated by specific inhibitors, such as α1-antitrypsin, which prevents uncontrolled elastin degradation.
The study of elastinase and its inhibitors is of great interest in medical and pharmaceutical research, as targeting elastinase activity may offer therapeutic potential in managing conditions associated with abnormal elastin metabolism, such as skin aging, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and aneurysms.
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A ferment acting upon elastin.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ELASTINASE
- elastase
- wlastinase
- slastinase
- dlastinase
- rlastinase
- 4lastinase
- 3lastinase
- ekastinase
- epastinase
- eoastinase
- elzstinase
- elsstinase
- elwstinase
- elqstinase
- elaatinase
- elaztinase
- elaxtinase
- eladtinase
- elaetinase
- elawtinase
Etymology of ELASTINASE
The word "elastinase" is derived from the combination of two components: "elastin" and "-ase".
1. Elastin: Elastin is a protein found in connective tissues, primarily responsible for providing elasticity and resilience to tissues such as skin, blood vessels, and lungs.
2. -ase: "-ase" is a suffix commonly used in the names of enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that catalyze specific chemical reactions in the body.
Therefore, "elastinase" refers to an enzyme that acts on elastin, breaking it down or modifying it.
Similar spelling words for ELASTINASE
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