Table 1

Protease-antiprotease interactions

Proteinase
Class
Activity
Active antiproteases

Neutrophil elastase
Serine
Degrades elastin, collagen type IV & laminin
AAT


Inactivates TIMP
SERPINA3


Activates MMP9
SLPI
Cathepsin G
Serine
Degrades elastin, collagen I, II, IV & laminin
SERPINA3


Activates MMP9
SLPI
Proteinase 3
Serine
Degrades elastin & collagen IV
AAT


Activates TNFα

Cathepsin B
Cysteine
Degrades elastin
Cystatin C


Inactivates secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI)

MMP1
MMP
Degrades collagens I-IV, VII, VIII, X, XI
TIMP1-4


Inactivates AAT



Activates TNFα

MMP9
MMP
Degrades collagen IV, V, X, XIV & elastin
TIMP1-4


Inactivates AAT



Activates TNFα & TGFβ

MMP12
MMP
Degrades collagen I, IV, elastin & fibrillin
TIMP1-4


Inactivates AAT



Activates TNFα


Wood and Stockley Respiratory Research 2006 7:130   doi:10.1186/1465-9921-7-130