Antileukoproteinase Antibody

Antileukoproteinase (ALP) is an acid-stable proteinase inhibitor with strong affinities for trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and cathepsin G. ALP prevents elastase-mediated damage to oral and possibly other mucosal tissues. 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 ALP, 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.