LEUKOCYTE ELASTASE Meaning and
Definition
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Leukocyte elastase, also known as neutrophil elastase, is an enzyme belonging to the serine protease family. It is predominantly produced and stored in the granules of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell primarily responsible for immune defense.
Leukocyte elastase plays a crucial role in the innate immune response, particularly in the defense against bacterial and fungal infections. This enzyme is capable of breaking down and degrading various extracellular matrix components like elastin, which provides elasticity to tissues such as lung, skin, and blood vessels. By doing so, leukocyte elastase aids in the prevention of pathogen spread and tissue destruction during an infection.
However, dysregulated or excessive release of leukocyte elastase can result in tissue damage and chronic inflammation associated with various diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. In these conditions, increased leukocyte elastase activity contributes to the degradation of lung tissue and the formation of mucus plugs, leading to reduced lung function.
Leukocyte elastase inhibitors have been developed as therapeutic agents to mitigate the harmful effects of excessive elastase activity in these diseases. These inhibitors work by preventing the enzyme from degrading the extracellular matrix components, thus maintaining tissue integrity and reducing inflammation.
Common Misspellings for LEUKOCYTE ELASTASE
- Leukocyte Elastare
- Leukocyte Elastasu
- Leukocyte Elastasm
- Leukocyte Elastasa
- Leukocyte Elastasg
- l eukocyte elastase
- le ukocyte elastase
- leu kocyte elastase
- leuk ocyte elastase
- leuko cyte elastase
- leukoc yte elastase
- leukocy te elastase
- leukocyt e elastase
- leukocyte e lastase
- leukocyte el astase
- leukocyte ela stase
- leukocyte elas tase
- leukocyte elast ase
- leukocyte elasta se
- leukocyte elastas e
Etymology of LEUKOCYTE ELASTASE
The word "leukocyte elastase" is a compound term consisting of two parts: "leukocyte" and "elastase".
1. Leukocyte:
The term "leukocyte" comes from the Greek words "leukos" meaning "white" and "kytos" meaning "cell". When combined, "leukocyte" literally translates to "white cell". Leukocytes, commonly known as white blood cells, are a crucial part of the immune system and play a role in defending the body against infections and diseases.
2. Elastase:
The word "elastase" is derived from the root word "elast", which comes from the Latin word "elastrum" meaning "leather bottle". It refers to the enzyme that breaks down elastin, a protein found in connective tissues such as skin, blood vessels, and lungs.
